The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has reached a landmark agreement with medical unions to end a prolonged strike that paralyzed the country’s healthcare system. The breakthrough came during high-level negotiations chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi himself.

In a statement delivered by Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Jean-Pierre Tshimanga Bwana, the government confirmed it had addressed all core demands from the Syndicat National des Médecins (SYNAMED). The agreement was formalized during two critical meetings: one held at the Ministry of Finance on 23 June 2026 and another at the Ministry of Public Health on 7 July 2026.

The key concessions include the full integration of all supplementary allowances into the official payroll starting from the third quarter of 2026. Additionally, the government has pledged to align the salaries of 200 doctors with national standards and prioritize healthcare sector mechanization initiatives conducted by the Civil Service.

Immediate administrative reforms will target doctors under special regimes, including those serving with the National Police, Armed Forces (FARDC), and Higher Education sector. The government also committed to cleaning up the payroll system to eliminate ghost workers and ensure accurate salary disbursements.

Minister Tshimanga Bwana emphasized that the government will review broader medical professional salary alignments in August 2026. “These measures demonstrate our commitment to improving working conditions for healthcare professionals while strengthening our national health system,” he stated.

The SYNAMED coordination had previously escalated the strike with the “Hôpitaux sans Médecins” (Hospitals Without Doctors) campaign, which ran from 7 to 16 July 2026 across most provinces. The industrial action had severely disrupted healthcare services, with only emergency departments and blood banks remaining operational. Critical cases were redirected to designated hospitals as the union demanded the government fulfill its promises.

Following the agreement, SYNAMED announced the immediate suspension of the strike, acknowledging the government’s willingness to address their concerns. The resolution marks a significant step toward restoring normalcy in the DRC’s healthcare system, which had been severely strained by the prolonged industrial action.