STATE doctors yesterday agreed to suspend strike plans to give the government more time to consider their demands.
Marathon discussions between the Union of Public Doctors (PASYKI) and the Health and Finance Ministries started at noon yesterday and lasted throughout the day.
Doctors have now set December 20 as the deadline for the government to respond to their proposals.
If demands are not satisfied, the doctors will resort to drastic measures, PASYKI head Dr Stavros Stavrou said yesterday.
“We are not expecting all our demands to be adopted by the government. But there are specific critical aspects that we are adamant about,” he said, adding that the reason they hadn’t taken action so far was out of concern for the public.
The doctors’ demands centre around the structure and administration of clinics, pensions, retraining, overtime and insurance.
The structure of public hospitals, says Stavrou, is currently a shambles.
“This is one of our most important demands. The current structure needs urgent attention. By December 20 this matter should be resolved and by the end of May it should be implemented.”
He said the introduction of a system of appointments for consultations would greatly improve the situation, something the government had recognised.
“This will also bring to the surface the current staff and space shortages of the Public Health Sector,” he added.
Progress has also been noted on the matter of pensions.
“The Finance Ministry is willing to discuss it whereas in the past it has been negative,” said Stavrou.
“But this does not mean that they will fund the money,” he added.
Other suggestions involved payment of costs of patients sent abroad for treatment.
Stavrou stressed that if air transportation was needed, then it should be more available
“When a doctor assesses that a patient needs to be treated abroad, this is not debatable. It is a decision which is made on the basis of scientific knowledge and experience.”
The Health Ministry has also committed itself to increasing resourses for the retraining of doctors.
“PASYKI believes that young trainee doctors should be given the chance to train at the state’s cost, either in the form of a small scholarship or by attending relevant seminars.”
Finally, Stavrou said the Association had asked the ministry to protect doctors by finding a way to stop the harassment of doctors when they make mistakes.
“It becomes personal. When people and the media talk of deaths and illnesses due to medical errors, doctors’ careers are at risk. We are also asking for insurance for when doctors are acquitted in court. Costs can reach up to £60,000; it’s not fair that a doctor has to pay for it out of his own pocket if he has been found innocent.”
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides hailed the progress in the talks: “For the time being the matter has been resolved. The necessary solutions will be found,” he said.
