Legislators from many of the Dominican political parties issued a call to the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) to set aside their plans for protests on Wednesday, 20 September 2017, because of the passing of Hurricane Maria. The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ruben Maldonado, suggested that “the doctors have to come to the side of the government” because society has to come together in order to prepare for possible emergencies due to the storm.
The legislators included members of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) who said that it would be “fair and reasonable” for the CMD to think about their demands and postponed the call for a general strike in order to join the efforts of prevention and assistance that will be needed by the authorities as hurricane Maria comes close to the Dominican Republic.
The CMD wants doctors who work in one or two health centers to receive a wage increase of 25%, and they have only received, so far, a 10% increase.
The work stoppage affects 191 public hospitals nationwide. The government ordered Armed Forces and National Police physicians to fill in for the striking physicians. Defense Minister Ruben Dario Paulino Sem said that 5,800 military and police medics will be on call during the hurricane days.
The chairman of the Health Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, Juan Carlos Quinones, has called the decision by the CMD “unfortunate” as the doctors push for a general strike in pursuit of the salary increases destined to medical personnel.
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Hoy
Diario Libre
7 Dias
20 September 2017
