Representatives of the board of directors of the Instituto Dominicano de Seguro Social (IDSS) and doctors of the Asociación Dominicana Médica (AMD) employed at IDSS hospitals have not been able to reach an agreement to end the work stoppage that has gone on for more than six months.
During a meeting on the night of 14 May, nothing was resolved, according to the president of the IDSS Medical Group, Dr. Rafael González de Peña. The doctors are demanding the payment of salaries for the months of January, February, March and April, which the IDSS refuses to pay due to the fact that the doctors did not work during that period. The strike at the IDSS hospitals was part of a general AMD work stoppage in public hospitals that lasted from 30 October to 1 May. The Ministry of Public Health paid its doctors salaries for January, February and March when the strike ended, but the IDSS claimed it was unable to do so arguing that it would not pay for time when no work was accomplished. Military medical personnel continue to work in the IDSS hospitals, where they have been since 15 January.
24-30 May 1996