BICOM

Some 280 residents failed to arrive at work yesterday morning, amid threats of mass resignation. Thousands of residents had signed resignation letters in July as part of a months-long doctors strike, but before Monday none had actually walked out. The Treasury earlier signed a labour agreement with the Israel Medical Association, but residents have continued their dispute, protesting long, unsustainable hours and poverty-level wages.

The walkout of medical residents has become a serious political issue and concern among Israelis, as access to emergency rooms could be affected. Dr. Dov Bechar, a resident at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva, has called on the prime minister to immediately intervene in the crisis. “Doctors want to work,” he said. “We love our work, but they can’t continue to exploit us and crush our demands.”

In response to the deepening crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a raise in the salaries of medical residents who work in the public health system. Following meetings with the Treasury, the Health Ministry and the Medical Association, Netanyahu ordered for a grant to increase the salaries by thousands of shekels per month. “The aim of the proposal is to improve doctors’ financial conditions and upgrade the public health system for the benefit of Israeli citizens. The increase will be given to doctors who favour public medicine over private medicine,” The prime minister’s statement said.

The National Labour Court is expected to reach a decision today whether to issue an injunction against the mass resignation of the medical residents that took place this past week.