Israeli healthcare workers launch nationwide strike

• Author: Israel National News
• Published date: 23 January 2023
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

The Israel Medical Association (IMA) announced Sunday that from 7:00 a.m. Monday until 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, medical services will be scaled back across the country, with only emergency services and a limited number of long-term care services offered

During the day-long strike, hospitals and other healthcare centers will operate largely in accordance with the typical Sabbath work-schedule, handling primarily emergency cases.

In addition to emergency rooms, intensive care units, and delivery rooms, hospitals will continue to operate their oncology, hematology, obstetrics, dialysis, and in vitro fertilization departments.

Talks broke down Sunday following a failed attempt by Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov to avert the strike.

In a letter to IMA chief Prof. Zion Hagay, Bar Siman Tov urged medical workers to find an alternative outlet for their protest.

"We do not disagree about the need to protest, but the planned steps for a shutdown will harm the patients and their daily routines."

Hagay rejected Bar Siman Tov's overture, threatening to expand the sanctions if the IMA's demands are not met.

"Tomorrow we will have a warning strike for...