Hospital in Kfar Saba
Photo: Mati Elmaliach
200 residents walk out
Doctors walk out on shifts
Some 200 residents in hospitals across Israel walk out on shifts as protest against pending wage agreement intensifies. Demonstrations expected to spread to other hospitals
The doctors' protest intensifies: Some 200 residents in hospitals across Israel
walked out in the middle of their shifts Tuesday, as part of a protest against a pending wage agreement which they say will reduce employment conditions in the health system to "slavery."
Due to their objection to this agreement, about 200 residents walked out on their shifts Tuesday from Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, and Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. In Sourasky Medical Center, the hospital director joined his residents in protest, as the demonstration is expected to spread to other hospitals.
Doctors' boards held meetings across Israeli hospitals on Tuesday to present the pending agreement between the Israel Medical Association and the Finance Ministry. Despite expectations, the future agreement will not bring dramatic changes to the standardization and hiring terms of physicians.
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The doctors also voiced their objection to what they call an 'electric handcuff' – a smart phone application which will be used to track the doctors' movements online.
Doctors criticized the IMA for holding debates and drafting the agreement without consulting with experts, despite them paying their membership fees in full. Some even threaten to discontinue their memberships if the new deal goes through.
"We are examining the option of a collective resignation nationwide," said one of the residents. "We'll begin with a mass exodus from all the hospitals… Some residents even said they will not return to their residency and are even willing to face jail time."
Meital Yasur-Beit Or contributed to the report
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