Adherence to the doctors’ strike that began today and continues until Wednesday is around 70%, with surgeries and consultations canceled in several regions of the country, said the president of the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam).
“The overall picture is more or less 70% [as of 12:00 today]. There are places with more membership and places with less, but we’re still missing some data (…) It’s quite a strong membership, which is significant considering the revolt that doctors feel,” Joana Bordalo e Sá told Lusa.
Fnam began a two-day general strike today, as well as a stoppage of overtime work in primary health care until August 31, accusing the government of “intransigence and inflexibility”.
Among the Fnam’s demands is the reinstatement of the normal working week of 35 hours and the updating of the salary scale, the integration of internal doctors into the entry-level category of the medical career and the reinstatement of 25 working days of vacation per year and five additional days of vacation if taken outside the high season.
Fnam has scheduled demonstrations today in Porto, next to the São João Hospital, in Coimbra, at the Covões General Hospital, and in Lisbon, in front of the Santa Maria Hospital.
The Lusa news agency contacted the Ministry of Health, under the supervision of Ana Paula Martins, who did not wish to react for the time being.
