Renewed health worker strike looms after futile dialog

A RENEWED strike is looming after 10 days of “futile” dialog with Panama’s health sector authorities say the leaders of a group representing over 30,000 health care workers.

The National Coordinator of Professional and Technical Guild of Health (Conagreprotsa) announced on Saturday, May 11 that the “truce” is over and that next week could see the start of a new work stoppage.

Alvaro Lozano, vice president of Conagreprotsa said on RPC Radio that the decision was taken, after determining that talks with members of the Ministry of Health and Social Security Fund have been futile.
Losano said that dialogue that began on May 2, failed to reach a consensus on the insistence by health authorities on hiring foreign staff, the negation of pay increases and the non-implementation of reclassifications mandated by law 41 of 2009, the association said.
Lozano said that starting Monday, May 13, the 37 groups that make up Conagreprotsa will form pickets and human chains and announce the date of the strike.

The secretary general of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Félix Bonilla, said that they are "puzzled" by the call to strike because at the moment there is negotiation.
The official said on RPC Radio said that the government should care responsibly for the resources of the National Treasury coffers. "We are taking care of the finances of the State…
"The government has to save money for hard times. The message is that we first need to think about the patients."
Bonilla said that when one demands a pay rise "one has to engage in improving the quality of care, which unfortunately have not been reflected in the talks."
"I would like them to say: 'I want a raise and pledge to see more of patients and improve the quality of care, effectiveness and efficiency.' "