Physicians of the nation?s public hospitals have joined their Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS) counterparts, who have been on strike since last Thursday. The public health hospital staff will attend emergency cases only today and tomorrow, as they seek to pressure the government for a 100% increase in wages, payment of retained wages for RD$50 million in the IDSS system, and a stepped-up supply of medicines and expendable materials needed to service patients. The Dominican Medical College president, Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero, said the work stoppage is a protest of the ?total collapse? of the public health system across the country, which is based on a severe lack of funding from the government. To make matters worse, the power crisis is draining hospital resources that must now go to purchase fuel for the generators. The country?s principal maternity hospital, the Maternidad Nuestra Senora de la Altagraica, announced yesterday it was suspending emergency services and surgeries that had been scheduled, in light of the critical situation.