Half-hour strike of doctors and dentists across the Federation of BiH

(Patria) - The Union of Professional Associations of Doctors of Medicine and Dentistry of the Federation of BiH is organizing a half-hour warning strike today because the Federal Government refuses to enter negotiations for a Collective Agreement at the level of the Federation of BiH.

The strike schedule varies from institution to institution, so the strike at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar will be at 8:30, at the Safet Mujić-Mostar Clinical Hospital at 8:30, and at the Zenica Clinical Hospital at 8:30.

At the Živinice Health Center at 9:30, Livno General Hospital at 10:00, the hospital and health center in Goražde at 10:00, Kalesija Health Center at 10:00,
Banovići Health Center at 10:00, Srebrenik Health Center at 10:00, and in other institutions in the Federation of BiH the strike will begin at 10:30.

As the President of the Union, Marina Berberović, stated for BHRT, the Union submitted a request for negotiations with the Federal Government for a new collective agreement ten months ago.

She emphasized that they are demanding from the Government of the Federation of BiH that medical workers in all ten cantons be equalized, i.e., that their rights be the same.

- Currently, there are ten different agreements regulating rights, and they all differ, and we are seeking harmonization - Berberović stated.

The Government of the Federation of BiH did not respond to the Union's call, and the Union will file a lawsuit in court to exercise its rights.

- The government is ignoring the problems that have accumulated in healthcare, and they must not be ignored. Doctors are a scarce profession.

Citizens often complain that they did not receive services on time, but if this number of healthcare workers remains, it will stay that way - Berberović said.

The Union does not have data on how many doctors are leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina; the Medical Chamber keeps records, but it is certainly a large number.