The Minister of Tourism, Frank Jorge Elías, has agreed to mediate between President Balaguer and the Asociación Médica Dominicana to find a solution to the present public hospital doctors’ strike which has lasted for five months. Some press reports indicate that the doctors may agree to return to work without their conditions fulfilled if the principal political contenders for the presidency in the May election agree to their conditions. They are basically requesting that the President honor commitments made during a previous strike. Mr Jorge Elías met with a commission from the AMD headed by Enriquillo Matos last week and confirmed that he would mediate with the President.
“Even though we know this is a matter for the Ministry of Public Health, we met with engineer Frank Jorge Elías to seek his help. We trust that he will tell the truth to the President,” said Enriquillo Matos last week. The Ministry of Public Health has retained the strikers’ salaries for January and February.