Some Clalit, Leumit and Health Ministry doctors to strike

No progress has been made in talks between Treasury wage division officials and the IMA.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
clalit hospital 88 248 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
clalit hospital 88 248
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The Israel Medical Association threatened on Tuesday that all Leumit community health clinics in the Central region would shut down on Wednesday, following fruitless negotiations during the day.
But it said that movement late on Tuesday could bring about a cancellation of the sanctions.
In any case, a full strike will be held on Wednesday in the Dan-Petah Tikva and Haifa community health fund clinics of Clalit Health Services. Municipal doctors, school health service physicians and well-baby (tipat halav) doctors will strike on Wednesday. In addition, District Health Office physicians in the Central, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Northern Districts will not work except for duty officers – one in each district – to handle emergencies.
On Thursday, hospital operating rooms will again perform only oncological and other urgent surgery, with all other hospital departments functioning normally.
No progress has been made in talks between Treasury wage division officials and the IMA, which began its sanctions over pay, working conditions, needs of the periphery and other issues some two months ago.