The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has successfully concluded negotiations with medical professionals’ unions, securing a comprehensive agreement that addresses longstanding grievances in the healthcare sector. The breakthrough came during the 94th Council of Ministers meeting, where Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana presented a progress report on commitments made to the health sector.

Under the leadership of President Félix Tshisekedi, discussions between government representatives and union officials culminated in a landmark consensus on several critical measures. These negotiations took place on June 23 at the Ministry of Finance and July 7 at the Ministry of Public Health.

Key commitments include:

• Full integration of supplementary allowances into official payroll systems starting Q3 2026
• Alignment of 200 physicians with standard salary scales
• Priority treatment of health sector issues in upcoming civil service mechanization initiatives
• Expedited processing of administrative procedures for doctors in special regimes (National Police, Armed Forces, Higher Education)
• Payroll system cleanup to improve workforce and compensation management

The government also committed to reviewing professional alignment for other medical categories in August 2026. In recognition of these substantial advances, health sector unions have agreed to suspend their industrial action.

Minister Tshimanga Bwana announced the decision, stating: “Based on these developments, the health unions coordination has decided to lift the strike action.”

This resolution comes after the National Medical Syndicate (Synamed) escalated their protest with “Hospitals Without Doctors” campaign from July 7-16, 2026. The union had cited unmet government commitments and lack of dialogue despite presidential directives. During the strike period, only emergency services and blood banks remained operational, with urgent cases redirected to designated facilities.

The agreement represents a significant step toward stabilizing Congo’s healthcare system and maintaining essential services for the population.