Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today met with top Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health officials as the Israel Medical Association threatens to renew the doctors' strike. Netanyahu reportedly gave full support for the Ministry of Finance's demand that in exchange for any deviation from the public sector salary agreement - a 7.25% pay hike over four years - doctors will, for the first time, be required to punch a clock.
The doctors are still demanding a 50% increase to their basic salaries, and reject the demand to punch a clock. A source at the meeting said, "Netanyahu basically said what he has always said, 'They give, they'll get'."
Ministry of Finance officials told Netanyahu of the doctors' demand to shorten shifts for specialists to 18 hours from 26 hours. To meet this demand without increasing the number of shifts per month, the ministry insisted that specialists also be required to add positions.
The Ministry of Health is prepared to reduce shifts by two hours, while the Medical Association is demanding a large increase in fees for shift work by specialists - a demand that would prevent hospital administrators from increasing the number of shifts because of a lack of funding.
The source said that Netanyahu supports the positions of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health that most of the cost of an agreement with doctors be used to finance doctors in the periphery and for specialists in fields with shortages.
On Wednesday, the Medical Association will hold a large demonstration in the Rose Garden by the Knesset - a sign that it is planning to resume its fight. Representatives from the Medical Association and the Ministry of Finance are due to meet tonight, but sources doubt that any progress will be made and work disruptions at government hospital will likely resume on Sunday.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 26, 2011
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