The Israel Medical Association launched another one-day strike today, shutting down all public hospitals, except for Ziv Hospital in Safed. Doctors are also holding a demonstration at the Reading parking lot in north Tel Aviv and lighting Lag B'Omer bonfires under signs saying, "Doctors won't continue putting out fires".
Hospitals are operating under Sabbath procedures. No surgeries are being performed and clinics are closed.
The Ministry of Finance and the Israel Medical Association are resuming their talks today, after a seven-day break.
Although the Israel Medical Association wants to intensify the struggle, it approved Ziv Hospital's request to opt out of today's strike, because it is the only hospital in the Mount Meron area - the focus of Lag B'Omer celebrations - and there are concerns of inadequate response in case of a mass-casualty incident.
The doctors' disruptions are due to continue. Outpatient clinics and hospital institutes south of Sourasky Medical Center Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv will be closed tomorrow. On Tuesday, hospitals north of Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomor will be closed.
Operations are due to resume normally on Wednesday, but more sanctions are scheduled for Thursday when doctors hold a "radiation workers" conference to which all doctors exposed to radiation during their work are invited.
Work at critical care wards, including emergency rooms, delivery rooms, and intensive care wards are not due to be affected by the doctors' strike. IVF clinics, dialysis, and urgent treatments will also not be disrupted.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 22, 2011
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