Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed their concern about the health workers' ongoing boycott of work in the three districts of Qacha’s Nek, Mokhotlong and Thaba Tseka in the National Assembly on Friday.

A Member of Parliament for Qacha’s Nek Constituency Mr. Mohlahlobo Busa moved an urgent motion in the National Assembly to urge the government to swiftly take action on the ongoing Doctors and Nurses who have boycotted their work since Monday in demand for increased hardship allowances.

Mr Busa expressed his concern saying the ongoing boycott of work by these health workers professionals in the three mountainous districts have left patients in a crisis.

He told the House that the boycott has shut down health services completely, leaving the patients at the risk of losing their lives due to lack of health care and drugs.

The Qacha’s Nek Legislator those at the serious health risk are pregnant mothers, those seeking emergency services like HIV and AIDS as well as people suffering from diabetes who require proper health care.

He lamented that some places are already vulnerable due to their geographical location since travelling is hampered by lack of road infrastructure, forcing patients to walk long distances on foot to access the health services but only to find that they are closed.

He therefore appealed to the Government to speedily address this long overdue challenge facing the health professionals so that they can end their boycott and return to work.

Minister of Education and Training Professor Ntoi Rapapa said the Government was already aware of the health professionals’ demands and was already working on it.

He said the health professionals are demanding increased hardship allowances which have been M250 for a long time. He said the government is ready to resolve this impasse.

However, Matlakeng Legislator Dr Mahali Phamotse questioned the Government administrative acumen, saying it should have foreseen that the health professionals were not satisfied and might end up downing their tools.

She stated that the Government should have long avoided the boycott and not wait until the health professionals have downed their tools before addressing the problem.

Dr. Phamotse who dumped the governing party to form her own political party said the Government has its own National Security Service (NSS) to inform it of anything that is going to happen.

Many MPs expressed their concern about the ongoing boycott by the health professionals, saying health issues are critical and should not be gambled about.