Doctors working in out-patient care won't go on strike on December 1, as they originally planned, even though they are also dissatisfied with the sector's financing, head of the Private Doctors Association (ASL) Ladislav Pásztor announced on Thursday, November 24.
Out-patient care doctors were thinking about staying at home on December 1 – the date when the notice periods of around 2,000 hospital doctors expire – out of fear that they would be forced to replace the hospital doctors in emergency cases. "Our members won't abandon their patients," Pásztor said, as quoted by the TASR newswire, adding that even though they prefer negotiation as the key method of enforcing changes, they are prepared to terminate agreements with health insurers if negotiation fails.
Out-patient care doctors said they view strike activities as irresponsible towards patients. "I don't say we're satisfied. We're very unsatisfied with the amount of money that we get," said Pásztor.
It's still unclear what will happen after December 1, given that the meeting between Prime Minister Iveta Radičová, Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik and the hospital doctors' union representatives on Wednesday did not reach a conclusive outcome. Another meeting is set to take place today, November 25.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
