Doctors strike committee accuses union of 'strike breaking'

Ahram Online, Thursday 18 Oct 2012

Egypt's doctors warn syndicate leaders not to work against strike which they claim has widespread support and has not harmed a single patient

doctors
Mona Mina (R) during a press conference of doctors strike on Monday 1 October 2012 (Photo: Zeinab El-Gundy)

The doctors' strike committee has warned the Doctors' Syndicate board not to work against its ongoing stoppage.

Doctors have been on a partial strike since 1 October to demand an increase in health spending to 15 per cent of the state budget, better healthcare standards, improved security at hospitals and wage increases.

"The board's manoeuvrings and the yielding tone it adopts in the media indicates its desire to end the strike even though it has widespread support and has not harmed a single patient," read the committee's statement on Thursday.

The committee called on doctors to continue the strike until they secure much-needed reforms to the Egyptian healthcare system.

The board of the Egyptian Doctors' Syndicate will meet on Thursday to discuss the strike.

On Sunday, doctors stepped up pressure on the health ministry by threatening to resign en masse.

According to the strike committee, at least 15,000 doctors will tender their resignations within days unless their demands are met.

Last year, doctors carried out nationwide strikes in May and September but failed to achieve their demands.

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