Doctors' strike a success

[NewsWhore]

Yesterday's 24-hour strike by doctors went ahead without a hitch. Although some doctors did minimal work, Hoy reports that the strike went on as planned throughout the country. The strike appears to have accomplished its goals, as Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez urged doctors to get back to the table and reopen dialogue with officials. The minister said that with the goal of continued communication with doctors, a special follow-up committee will continue working. The importance of doctors' work was highlighted when dozens of families, some having traveled long distances, arrived at hospitals in Santo Domingo but had to return home without getting much needed medical treatment. Some people complained that they had to get loans in order to make the trip to Santo Domingo. Dominican Medical Association (CMD) president Waldo Ariel Suero said that the strike had been a success across the DR. Suero made a veiled threat, saying that a one-week strike was still a possibility and added that the transport unions could even join doctors in their strikes. Suero also said that the fight for the wage increase would intensify. Doctors have been pressing for more benefits including an increase of their monthly salary to RD$59,000. Although Rojas seems willing to negotiate, Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa, quoted in Diario Libre, stressed that the government doesn't have the money to pay doctors since it was not included in the 2008 budget. However, observers noted that Bengoa's assertions were made the same time as the announcement that the Central Electoral Board was being awarded an extra RD$461 million to stage the 2008 presidential elections.

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