Doctors’ sanctions at outpatient clinics only

IMA requests daily talks, but the Treasury does not immediately respond.

By JUDY SIEGEL- ITZKOVICH
Ichilov underground hospital 521 (photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
Ichilov underground hospital 521
(photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
Contrary to the Israel Medical Association’s announcement last Thursday on doctors’ sanctions this week, they will affect only outpatient clinics in general, psychiatric and geriatric hospitals from Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer and northward, and not diagnostic institutes and day hospitals. The IMA spokeswoman said on Sunday that it had not reduced sanctions but had erred in its previous announcement.
On Sunday, only outpatient clinics in this region were closed. On Monday, outpatient clinics will be closed in the southern half of the country, from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and southward. On Tuesday, the same schedule will be in effect as on Sunday, but in hospitals from Sheba northward.
On Wednesday, the Monday schedule will be in effect in Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and southward. Health fund clinics and district health offices will function as usual.
On Thursday, all public medical institutions will function normally, the IMA said.
The Finance Ministry negotiators and the IMA’s representatives met on Sunday to discuss pensioners’ payments and senior doctors’ wage scales. The IMA also requested daily talks, but the Treasury did not immediately respond.