Yolanda Mamani Cayo / La Paz
Public health workers yesterday carried out mobilizations and blockades in four regions of the country: La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Potosí with demands ranging from the provision of items, incorporation into the General Labor Law, medical supplies, even more budget for health among others.
For its part, the Federation of Medical Unions and Related Branches of Social Security (Fesimras) announced a 48-hour strike and demands the dismissal of the general manager of the National Health Fund (CNS), Herland Tejerina.
protests
Public health workers from four regions yesterday began a 48-hour strike that will continue today. The health workers made blockades and mobilizations demanding a list of petitions. The sector does not rule out another 72-hour or indefinite strike from next week.
In the cities of La Paz and El Alto, public health workers blocked the main avenues of both cities.
“We are demanding the incorporation into the General Labor Law of all public health workers, we also ask for a budget greater than 10%. For example, only for El Alto we raise 1,500 items”, said one of the mobilized.
In the city of Cochabamba, the leader Ronald Orellana, of the Federation of Health Workers, indicated that they ask for respect for their internal regulations. “Health workers are asking that our internal regulations be respected, they want to impose regulations and we are not going to allow it,” he specified.
In Potosí, the Secretary of Public Health, Sonia Mamani, reported that changes are required in the personnel of the Departmental Health Service, in addition to compliance with previous commitments, among others.
In Santa Cruz, the 48-hour strike is also carried out in demand for the creation of more budget, medical supplies, replacement of items for professionals and the payment of life insurance to those who lost their lives in the first waves of the covid.
Fesimras
Fesimras, through a statement to its bases at the national level, called for a 48-hour strike on April 12 and 13. There will only be emergency care in the health centers dependent on the CNS.
“It will be a 48-hour mobilized national strike on Tuesday and Wednesday with emergency care. We request the dismissal of the current manager Tejerina because his administrative management is deficient, he has low budget execution and excessive hiring of administrative personnel, ”the executive secretary of Fesimras, Nancy Pereira, told Page Seven.
However, the leader added that on this day they will attend, together with the Bolivian Medical Association and unions, the dialogue convened by the Minister of Health, Jeyson Auza, at 3:00 p.m.
“What we are going to do is combine what the public part is asking for and what we are asking for as managing entities in the short term, to unite our requests so that they can solve our shortcomings once and for all,” added Pereira.
On Monday the 4th, the head of Health summoned the doctors to dialogue to listen to their demands. The minister announced this week the creation of 2,300 items for the sector; however, the statement also has other demands.
