Doctors live up to their word and hold 2nd nationwide strike
MENA, Tuesday 17 May 2011
Doctors refused to work in many Egyptian cities - except ER’s - to demand pay rises, an increase in the health ministry budget and stepped up ‎security measures in hospitals


A myriad of doctors went on a strike Tuesday in many Egyptian cities, calling for a host of ‎demands including pay rises, the increase of the health ministry budget and stepped up ‎security measures in hospitals. ‎

The nationwide strike affected several governorates. Personnel in emergency rooms, however, were excluded from the strike and did attend to patients.‎

In Sharqiya, hospitals and governmental clinics suspended work for four days from 8am - ‎‎2pm, while around 80 doctors went on a strike in Suez that should last for three days.‎

Likewise, Ismailiya’s doctors staged a three-day strike. A host of doctors in Alexandria ‎Damietta, Monofiya, Assiout, Daqahliya also participated, whereas only 10 in Gharbiya protested.‎

No doctors were reported striking in Al-Wadi Al-Gedid today. According to ‎ministry of health officials all hospitals and medical units are operating normally. ‎Doctors in the Red Sea, Aswan, Qena and Fayoum took no part in the nationwide strike. ‎

Dentists, pharmacists and nursing staff members also participated in the ‎nationwide strike. ‎

On Monday, civilians and political groups joined a solidarity demonstration supporting the ‎doctors' demands after they sent out an invitation on Sunday that read: "...‎solidarity demonstration at 3pm for civilians and all political groups to support Egyptian ‎doctors' demands for a better health care system for all Egyptians."‎

The doctors also demand the removal of the minister of health, Ashraf Hatem, who ‎they consider a member of Egypt’s previous, corrupt regime. The first strike was considered a great ‎success and was observed by 65 per cent of hospitals in Cairo and Giza and 90 per cent of ‎hospitals in other governorates.‎



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