Medical workers strike in Peru

2013-07-16 08:25:34

(MENAFN- AFP) Around 15,000 public sector medical workers in Peru went on strike Tuesday over demands for wage increases, officials said.

The strike came amid an outbreak of H1N1 swine flu that has killed three people, according to health Ministry officials.

Hospital care was restricted to emergency care only during industrial action declared illegal by the Ministry of Health.

The medical profession insists that patients in intensive care or needing emergency treatment will not be affected by the dispute.

In Lima, doctors union members marched through the streets to Congress to issue demands and urge legislators to approve pay increases.

Peruvian Medical Federation chief Cesar Palomino blamed the government of Ollanta Humala for the strike, accusing the Peruvian leader of reneging on promised wage increases agreed in 2012.

Palomino also called for the resignation of Health Minister Midori de Habich -- to be replaced by a medical professional -- although this claim is not among the formal demands of the striking workers.

The health minister responded by calling for "a little patience and collaboration" while describing the strike as "totally unjustified."

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.