Dominicana_1965
17th November 2007, 07:42
Panama, Nov 16 (Prensa Latina) President Martin Torrijos warned public health physicians, in their 11th day of a strike for a salary increase, that the government would begin today, Friday, to deduct time absent from their pay and would hire temporary doctors.
Nearly 5,000 members of the National Negotiating Medical Commission (COMENENAL) began the strike November 6 demanding a 60 percent increase.
The striking doctors have only been handling emergencies and have cancelled scheduled surgeries and appointments, declaring that they want to stop the privatization of the public health sector.
In negotiations that ended late Thursday night, the doctors agreed to reduce their demand to 45 percent if the government stops privatizing any kind of medical service.
COMENAL leader Julio Garcia asserted that the privatization would end paying doctors less and affect patients that could not pay a minimum or attend a private hospital.
A poll published today revealed that 72.3 of those consulted believe a 60 percent salary increase is unfair.
http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={DAE98...09}&language=EN (http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={DAE98994-3BC7-46B8-8770-2F06E91B8E09}&language=EN)
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http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={AF0F4...CF}&language=EN (http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={AF0F4A0F-898C-4EBF-90E7-E077D3D7B8CF}&language=EN)]
[B]No End in Sight for Panama Med Strike
Panama, Nov 9 (Prensa Latina) Panamanian public hospital physicians are in their fourth day striking for higher pay Friday, with no sign yet of a solution to the short-term crisis.
The strike was convened by the National Negotiating Medical Commission (Comenenal), demanding a 60 percent pay hike for the 5,600 doctors working in centers of the Health Ministry and Social Insurance Fund (CSS).
Among their arguments, the physicians sustain that training for their career costs at least 20,000 dollars, which is seen as an investment sometimes funded by bank loans that must be recovered in the course of their practice.
Meanwhile, the government said any wage increase should be compensated with qualified service and a determined number of medical consults.
During the three previous days of strike, the public health system was unable to cope with over 93,000 medical appointments, and nearly 1,500 elective surgeries, according to official estimates.
Apart from their wage demands, the doctors call for higher investment in equipment and hospital supplies.
Nearly 5,000 members of the National Negotiating Medical Commission (COMENENAL) began the strike November 6 demanding a 60 percent increase.
The striking doctors have only been handling emergencies and have cancelled scheduled surgeries and appointments, declaring that they want to stop the privatization of the public health sector.
In negotiations that ended late Thursday night, the doctors agreed to reduce their demand to 45 percent if the government stops privatizing any kind of medical service.
COMENAL leader Julio Garcia asserted that the privatization would end paying doctors less and affect patients that could not pay a minimum or attend a private hospital.
A poll published today revealed that 72.3 of those consulted believe a 60 percent salary increase is unfair.
http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={DAE98...09}&language=EN (http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={DAE98994-3BC7-46B8-8770-2F06E91B8E09}&language=EN)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/B
http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={AF0F4...CF}&language=EN (http://plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={AF0F4A0F-898C-4EBF-90E7-E077D3D7B8CF}&language=EN)]
[B]No End in Sight for Panama Med Strike
Panama, Nov 9 (Prensa Latina) Panamanian public hospital physicians are in their fourth day striking for higher pay Friday, with no sign yet of a solution to the short-term crisis.
The strike was convened by the National Negotiating Medical Commission (Comenenal), demanding a 60 percent pay hike for the 5,600 doctors working in centers of the Health Ministry and Social Insurance Fund (CSS).
Among their arguments, the physicians sustain that training for their career costs at least 20,000 dollars, which is seen as an investment sometimes funded by bank loans that must be recovered in the course of their practice.
Meanwhile, the government said any wage increase should be compensated with qualified service and a determined number of medical consults.
During the three previous days of strike, the public health system was unable to cope with over 93,000 medical appointments, and nearly 1,500 elective surgeries, according to official estimates.
Apart from their wage demands, the doctors call for higher investment in equipment and hospital supplies.