Protests continued to grip Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, on Tuesday, just one day after President Andry Rajoelina appointed a new military-backed prime minister in a bid to quell rising unrest. The latest wave of demonstrations has now spread to the healthcare sector, amplifying calls for systemic reform.
Hundreds of medical students and junior doctors walked out of Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital, the country’s largest public medical facility and marched toward the Ministry of Health. Their protest, demanding better working conditions and a stronger healthcare system, quickly escalated when police blocked their path just meters from the ministry. After more than an hour of tense negotiations, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
“We’re doing this for the Malagasy people,” said one protester. “The quality of care is unacceptable. We won’t return to work until our demands are met.”
Medical students in Madagascar earn the equivalent of just €0.25 per hour, while junior doctors receive around €100 per month roughly €1 per hour. They are calling for their wages to be increased to €240 monthly. Beyond pay, they cite dire shortages in equipment and infrastructure, with some doctors seeing up to 100 patients a day.
In response, junior doctors have suspended minimum services in public hospitals, intensifying pressure on the government.
The unrest comes as President Rajoelina prepares to launch a “national dialogue” on Wednesday, following a 48-hour ultimatum issued by youth-led protest groups. They’ve warned of a nationwide strike if their demands are not addressed.
As tensions mount, the healthcare protests add a new layer to Madagascar’s political crisis, underscoring widespread frustration with public services and governance.
