A strike of specialist doctors began on Monday 18 October. Specialists in Algerian hospitals and universities were working normally, however. The doctor-strikers assembled in front of the Mustapha-Pacha hospital in Algiers and were addressed by Dr Sobeihi, of the National Trade Union of Specialist Doctors for National Health. He declared that emergency work is continuing for the public good.
At Beni Messous and Nefissa-Hamoud d’Hussein Dey hospitals, doctors were striking but were trying to cause minimum reduction of health service. In Oran, the strike is also strong.
The specialists were entitled to a raise of 70% in their salaries since January 2001 according to a previous agreement signed with government. The Algerian health minister, however, wants the rise to go to the most successful doctors and not those who have served the longest, in a bid to improve standards.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
