Panama Medics
Paralyze Public
Hospitals
Panama polyclinics and
public hospitals linked
to the Health Ministry
and Social Security are
only treating
emergencies Tuesday due
to a medical staff
protest for higher pay.
Some 5,600 physicians
went on strike demanding
a 60 percent pay raise
(some $1,500) so they
will not provide over
22,000 consultation nor
at least 300 operations.
Patients seeking
services, mostly poor
people who traveled from
the provinces, including
those undergoing
dialysis at Santo Tomas
Hospital, found clinics
empty and began their
own strong protests.
National health
authorities, led by
Minister Rosario Turner,
rejected the doctors
demand, considering the
$98 million necessary as
excessive, and in any
case say it cannot be
met this year.
Although Minister Turner
said the government is
willing to talk,
National Medical
Negotiating Commission
Coordinator Julio Garcia
denied that, adding that
it is the patients who
will suffer as many
professionals will leave
the sector. |
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