Health: “Syndicates condemn Minister's statements about stopping free treatment in hospitals”

Statements of the Finance Minister, Mohamed Djellab, during a hearing session that was organized by the committee of financial and economic affairs at the Nation’s Council, about stopping free treatment in hospitals, in the framework of austerity policy that was pursued by government, sparked anger among Health Syndicates, who confirmed that they will ask the minister, Abdelmalek Boudiaf, during the meeting that will bring them with him on January 25 about these statements.

Vice Chairman of the National Syndicate of Public Health, Khemis Ali, said the Finance Minister’s recent statements are irresponsible.

“These statements if real will be catastrophic, especially since the Prime Minister confirmed that free treatment will not be effected by austerity policy”.

“Health Syndicates angrily received the Finance Minister’s statements in which he said government is moving towards the policy of getting rid of free treatment”.

“Health Minister, Abdelmalek Boudiaf, will be asked in the next week meeting, about these statements and the issue of stopping free treatment. Syndicates will not accept this decision”.

“We will discuss employees concerns and problems during the meeting with Health Minister. We will ask for urgent application of the PM instruction about allowing the Health Minister to treat the delays in applying upgradings and senior posts, and ranks and integrate temporary workers and retirees in permanent posts, in addition to discussing the sector’s problems about organizing hospitals, and discussing the last developments in the Health Law which is still at the government level, to accelerate its adoption”.