Health Ministry Maha al-Rabbat denied claims that participation in the partial strike was high, saying the percentage in the partial strike staged by doctors and pharmacists had only reached 12 percent.
She added that 451 out of the 514 state-run hospitals did not take part in the partial strike, though it took place in the clinics at 63 hospitals on Monday.
Hospitals resumed the medical service rendered to patients at all the hospitals nationwide despite the partial strike, Rabbat said.
Eight governorates boycotted the strike according to the ministry’s operations chamber, Rabbat added. The governorates are Red Sea, North Sinai, South Sinai, Aswan, Fayyoum, New Valley, Daqahliya and Qalyoubia. No complaints were filed over the medical service.
Rabbat thanked the doctors who resumed their duties.
The syndicate earlier called for strike against the doctors cadre which was adopted by Health Ministry. Doctors point to shortcomings within the cadre regarding the salaries and employment rights.
Doctors Syndicate’s general assembly decision ordered staging strike on Mondays and Wednesdays of February, due to the cabinet’s reluctance in applying the medical professions cadre law.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
