The Israel Medical Association declared a labor dispute on Monday over its claim that the Health Ministry "imposed restrictions on the employment of doctors under the guise of limiting competition between the [health] funds." The federation called on the ministry to freeze and cancel the directives and hold urgent negotiations.
The IMA announced that a 24-hour warning strike will be held this Wednesday in all hospitals and in all community clinics, from 7:00 am to 7:00 am the next morning. The strike will put general, geriatric, psychiatric and rehabilitative hospitals throughout the country on a Sabbath and holiday schedule. Also striking will be doctors who work in health offices, school doctors, doctors working in government offices and other medical institutions, and doctors who fill administrative positions. Local committees will decide on exceptions.
Emergency dialysis services, intensive care, emergency rooms, delivery rooms, premature-baby wards and oncology treatments will be provided.