Doctors declare 48-hour strike – first in 20 years

Doctors at public hospitals are going on a 48-hour strike next week after failing to reach an agreement with state health services organisation (Okypy), it emerged on Wednesday.

The strike will go ahead on July 2 and 3, and unions are weighing tougher measures such as shutting down A&E departments.

“A 48-hour strike is something which hasn’t happened in 20 years. Things aren’t so simple,” head of Pasyki union Sotiris Koumas told CNA.

Though there is still disagreement on whether to shut down A&E departments, Koumas said there are other providers who offer the service outside of public hospitals that individuals can head to should the need arise.

Unions Pasydy and Pasyki are expected to formally announce the measures in a statement later in the day or by Thursday.

Okypy on Tuesday sent both unions a proposal, which was deemed unsatisfactory according to Pasyki’s Koumas.

“Beyond the fact that it’s not good enough, unfortunately it entails a degrading and offensive stance by Okypy’s board and its organisation towards doctors.

“This will be met with a response,” he told CNA.

According to Koumas, Okypy’s arguments are completely refuted. He said if revenue is reduced by six per cent, then it makes no sense that returns to doctors are slashed by 26 per cent.

“They need to respond to this. Instead of appreciating that we gave them a week to decide, they considered it a weakness.”

Koumas called on the health minister to get involved, though he is currently hospitalised.

“We recognise he is unwell and we apologise. We wish him well but the health ministry must get involved in some way. It cannot consider itself out of the equation.

“Public hospitals still belong to the state.”

Okypy simply manages them and has completely failed in doing so, Koumas added. 

Pasyki took offence at Okypy’s use of the term ‘productive units’ which was mentioned in the proposal.

“These men at Okypy need to understand that it is these productive units that produce and ensure we all get paid. They are there to help and support doctors not guide them.”

The dispute revolves around the doctor’s pay. They claim that Okypy has ‘cheated’ on reimbursing them for work done in 2023 by arbitrarily interpreting an agreement in place that concerns remuneration based on an incentives system.

Doctors receive two types of incentives – horizontal (given to all) and vertical (based on performance). Overtime is part of the horizontal incentives.