Doctors announce warning strike for next Thursday, ball in FBiH Government's court

(Patria) - The Union of Professional Associations of Doctors of Medicine and Dentistry (SSSDMiS) of the FBiH, which met today in Zenica, announced a warning strike for October 26 if the FBiH Government does not respond positively to their initiative from four months ago by then.

President of SSSDMiS FBiH Marina Berberović said that two months ago they reiterated their initiative demanding the signing of a collective agreement and equalization of doctors' rights across the entire territory of the FBiH.

By next Thursday, she pointed out, they have given enough time for their demands to be met and for the legal procedures for organizing this strike to be fulfilled.

- The FBiH Government has the opportunity to stop the organization of the strike by approving this initiative of ours. It is a legal obligation to respond to a letter from an association like ours - Berberović stated.

She emphasized that they are ready to start negotiations and stop the announced strike, adding that this union gathers more than 90 percent of doctors at the FBiH level, i.e., they have more than 4,500 members.

Berberović said that if a strike occurs, initially it will be a warning strike lasting 30 minutes, during which they would organize a work stoppage and thus send a final warning to the FBiH Government about the necessity of equalizing doctors' rights, Fena reports.

- Currently, the differences in earnings in the FBiH are up to 50 percent. This, unfortunately, does not motivate doctors in small communities to stay and continue working there. So, certainly, in the coming years, if this is not resolved, the trend of doctors leaving will only increase - added Berberović.

Vice President of SSSDMiS FBiH Admir Suljić emphasized that their only demand is the start of negotiations for a federal collective agreement and equalization of doctors' rights in the FBiH.

- That is a simple demand, and I think any reasonable person would accept such a proposal. If that does not happen, we will undertake further activities provided by law to achieve it - said Suljić.

In addition to equalizing doctors' rights, he stressed, this also ensures the population's right to uniform healthcare.

- Every resident has the same rights, so we demand that doctors have the same rights. Given that the doctor is the bearer of work in healthcare, solving the doctors' problem will also solve the problem of healthcare for the population - Suljić believes.

The union, he added, made a decision on a minimum hourly wage by canton, because not all cantons have the same capacity.

- The minimum hourly wage must be respected, and we are not against cantons that can offer more. But the minimum minimum must be ensured for every doctor in the entire FBiH.

We demand that these be uniform coefficients - said Suljić, adding that the minimum hourly wage should be three KM.