Doctors considering nationwide strike

The National Union of Doctors (OZZL) has said that it is considering protesting the failure of recent negotiations with the Health Ministry.

In a joint press conference with the Polish Chamber of Physicians, OZZL said that it is even mulling a nationwide strike if their conditions are not met.

“The Health Ministry wants to cause a falling out among General Practitioners, “but we want to unite them,” said Wlodzimierz Hoffmann from the Wielkopolski Health Employers Association.

Hundreds of Polish doctors have not yet signed contracts for the treatment of patients in 2015, leading to scores of polyclinics remaining closed around the country. This has caused long queues at the outpatient departments at the centres which have opened their doors.

The doctors have not come to an agreement with the Health Ministry over several issues which include doctor referrals, budgets and queues for the Primary Healthcare services (POZ).

On Sunday, Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz called a meeting with Health Minister Bartosz Arlukowicz over the escalating crisis. Following the meeting, Minister Arlukowicz urged Polish patients affected by he protests to change doctors to those who have signed the contracts.

He added that doctors have requested a budget of PLN 2 billion, but only received half that amount from the Ministry.
Health Ministry data indicates that 85 percent of Polish doctors have already signed the new contracts for 2015.