This text has been automatically translated, it may contain errors or inaccuracies.
Health Sector Bureau
Favorite
Remove from my list

Will doctors continue the strike after the agreement between Osakidetza and SME?

The Medical Union of the Basque Country and the other unions that make up the State Strike Committee announced an indefinite strike from September, following the adoption of the General Statutory Framework in June. This agreement with the management of Osakidetza improves some of the working conditions of doctors, but does not meet all their demands.

MIR-osakidetza-personal-medico-irekia

Stock image of doctors working.

On Monday at the sectoral table the agreement between the Basque Government and the Medical Unionof the Basque Country improves the system and salaries of medical guards. However, not all medical demands are met and it is not at all clear whether theindefinite strike  called from September will be called off\u00A0. The agreement , however, may affect the voluntary overtime of doctors .

The doctors of the public health system of the Basque Country have been engaged for months in two labour disputes: the first with the Ministry of Health, calling for a framework of their own, and the second with the Basque Government and the management of Osakidetza to demand an improvement in working conditions linked to the autonomous system.

The medical associationsrepresented in the Basque Country distinguish between conflicts bi and make it clear that this agreement does not automatically disable the strike called by the State Strike Committee for the autumn, when theCouncil of Ministers Uu approved the reform of the Framework and refused to create a differentiated statute for doctors.

SME spokeswoman Mabel Arciniega has assured that her association will ratify the decision taken by the State Strike Committee . She believes it will be difficult to achieve a statutory framework of its own by September, so that an indefinite strike can be a reality.

Other medical groups, such as Médecins du Derechos (MUD), clearly distinguish between the two conflicts. Elena del Val, a doctor at Donostia Hospital and a member of the MUD, has insisted that this agreement does not mean a break from the strike.

Positive impact on waiting lists

Despite doubts, this agreement they have reached with the management of Osakidetza may affect peonades and therefore waiting lists. 

However, Arciniega acknowledges that peonads are voluntary and therefore it will be up to each professional to do so or not.

The main objective of these working hours outside the usual hours is to reduce waiting lists which, according to Osakidetza, have increased considerably in recent months due to the labour dispute. Lore Bilbao, directorof Osakidetza , believes that the agreement will have an impact and that from August the situation will improve considerably.

Although the agreement has been welcomed by the SME union and the MUD, both groups have stressed that there are still many aspects to be improved and have urged the management of Osakidetza to continue negotiating.

You might like

Load more
Advertising
X