Physicians Strike in Peru

13,000 Doctors Begin Strike in Peru

(LIP-ir) -- Julio Vargas, the president of the Peruvian Doctors Association, announced Monday that doctors would begin a strike on Tuesday January 8. As promised, over 13,000 doctors in the Andean country began a strike on Tuesday morning. According to Vargas, the union is requesting that health service in Peru be improved so patients in the country can be better assisted. Requests also include a higher budget to establish an adequate system and work with human resources departments, which are unmotivated because of low salaries.

Vargas explained that there were 7,000 medical centers that did not have the necessary funds or equipment to provide a quality service to patients."We are not even asking for a higher pay, but for bonuses that we are legally entitled to. Bonuses that would in some way ease the depressing economical situation doctors are living," affirmed Vargas. Peru's new Health Minister, Hernán Garrido Lecca labeled the strike "unfair" and demanded that the union end the strike so that negotiations could proceed. The Health Minister visited several of Lima's hospitals early this morning and stated that doctors were working as usual.

Emergency rooms, intensive care units and other such services will continue to operate, said César Palomino, the general secretary for the Peruvian Doctors Association.