Nearly two months after launching their strike, hundreds of doctors, interns and students took to the streets of Tel Aviv once more yesterday, Sunday, threatening to upgrade their protest. Among the protesters: MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) and several doctors who are activists in Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) and the Communist Party of Israel.
The protesters lit fires under the slogan: “Doctors unwilling to continue to put out fires.” They threatened that come July they will only work according to regulations and without extra hours, which the doctors claim they do not get paid for. This effectively means there would be fewer doctors on call in wards, interns would work less hours and specialists would not be able to pull off rotations.
MK Khenin, yesterday (photo: Al Ittihad)
Israel Medical Association (IMA) chairman Dr. Leonid Eidelman warned that the strike might last a while. “Even if the public, which does support us right now, will get tired – we will not. We have it in us to fight for months until we reach our goal,” he said.
Deputy IMA chairman Dr. Yisrael Eilig also warned of a prolonged strike. “We’re drowning. We’re under water and we won’t make it much longer. We’re not going to let anyone hurt the patients, we’re not going to allow anyone to hurt us.”
Meanwhile, the strike continues in all public hospitals. Yesterday, hospitals operate on Shabbat (weekend) protocol, only operating and treating patients in cases of an emergency. Outpatient clinics are currently not working and scheduled surgeries and non-urgent examinations were canceled. However, emergency rooms, delivery rooms, intensive care units and dialysis and oncology departments are operating as usual.
