The strike at the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) entered its third day on Friday as unions and employers worked to resolve the impasse‚ which has clinics turning away patients needing tests. Members of the National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the Public Servants Association (PSA) downed tools on Wednesday following a deadlock in the wage talks. The unions met the employer on Friday morning in an effort to end the strike‚ which has affected the provision of laboratory testing services for the majority of the population. NHLS provides laboratory and related public health services to more than 80% of the population through a national network of laboratories. DA Gauteng health spokesman Jack Bloom said on Friday that thousands of patients at clinics were being asked to come back later for tests as the strike entered its third day. He said acting NHLS head Prof Shabir Madhi had informed the heads of provincial health departments that the NHLS would ...
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