VARIOUS: Doctors from V4 countries hold symbolic work stoppage over pay and conditions

Record ID: 341055

  • Title: VARIOUS: Doctors from V4 countries hold symbolic work stoppage over pay and conditions
  • Date: 20th November 2012
  • Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (NOVEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS OUTSIDE POLISH HEALTH MINISTRY FLAG WITH LOGO OF POLISH DOCTORS UNION PROTEST CARICATURE OF POLISH PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK BANNER READING: "RESCUE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM" (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) HEAD OF POLISH DOCTORS UNION, KRZYSZTOF BUKIEL, SAYING: "This is a symbolic protest by doctors unions from four countries:
  • Embargoed: 5th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Slovakia, Poland
  • City:
  • Country: Poland Slovakia
  • Topics: Health,Economy
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ALEMNST02KXRGCNTE99TFYMY
  • Story Text: Hundreds of doctors from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary take part in a symbolic work stoppage over their pay and working conditions.


    Doctors in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic held a symbolic work stoppage on Tuesday (November 20) in protest against low pay and reforms they say are undermining health care by shifting too much power to insurers.
    In Poland, some hundred doctors gathered outside the health ministry, accusing the ministry of pushing Polish medical care to the brink.
    "This is a symbolic protest by doctors' unions from four countries: Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. And the main message is to rescue the health care system. We think that through their decisions, the people in power are leading the system to a downfall. Through wrong decisions, decisions which avoid the most important matters, decisions which avoid the main problem which is insufficient financing of the health care system in Poland and in other countries," the head of the Polish doctor's union, Krzysztof Bukiel said.
    "I am a second-year medical student and I came here to protest against health care in its current state. I don't like the current state of medical services, how patients are treated and waiting lists for patients to be accepted for treatment," medical student Krzysztof Gajewski said.
    Meanwhile, doctors from more than 60 hospitals throughout the Czech Republic stopped working at noon on Tuesday.
    They were left dissatisfied after the Czech health ministry promised them a ten percent pay rise - a promise which was never fulfilled.
    "There was a 10 percent salary increase mentioned in the memorandum. We got - as well as in another state hospitals - 6,25 percent. Doctors in hospitals which have other backers didn't get anything," said radiologist Martin Masek.
    In a similar protest in Slovakia, 142 doctors laid down tools for the day.
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