The Dominican Medical Association (AMD) has called for a 24-hour work stoppage today by all doctors in all public hospitals and clinics in the eastern provinces. During the 24-hour period beginning at 8 am this morning, doctors will only attend emergencies. Private clinics are not affected. Similar work stoppages have been held in Santo Domingo, the southeast and in the Cibao region over the past two weeks, and is part of an AMD effort to pressure President Fern?ndez to negotiate directly with them regarding a pay hike they are demanding. Prior negotiations with Public Health Minister Altagracia Guzm?n Marcelino were recently broken off by AMD – the doctors’ group say that it no longer trusts her to negotiate in good faith and will only deal with the President. In fact, AMD President Waldo Ariel Suero announced to reporters yesterday that the AMD is studying whether to file an action in the Supreme Court against Dr. Guzm?n Marcelino. AMD would accuse the Minister of violating labor laws 4471 and 6097 by trying to force doctors to sign work contracts and by allegedly withholding pay from doctors participating in the stoppages.
