Dominican Medical Association calls off strike and march after President Abinader's call for dialogue

Santo Domingo.— The Dominican Medical Association (CMD) announced on Tuesday that it has called off the 24-hour national strike it had planned for Wednesday, November 4, as well as the march to the National Palace scheduled for Wednesday the 11th, after receiving a call from President Luis Abinader to meet and discuss the sector's demands.

The decision was announced by the union's National Board of Directors at a press conference, where it explained that the move responds to the call for a meeting with the president, set for Thursday, November 12, at the National Palace.

CMD president Luis Alberto Peña Núñez said the suspension seeks to continue the negotiations the union holds with the government, with a view to reaching an agreement that benefits both health professionals and the public. He also reiterated the association's willingness to keep dialogue open and to find solutions to its demands.

Among the demands the union will bring to the table are seniority, distance and on-site shift incentives, salary improvements, the appointment of staff to reduce overwork, and work on hospitals such as Padre Billini and Salvador B. Gautier. Peña Núñez also noted that more than 1,100 pending documents related to seniority incentives are held at the CMD.

The union had announced just on Monday a 24-hour stoppage, keeping emergency services, intensive care and admitted patients running, plus a peaceful march on the 11th from the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia maternity hospital to the National Palace. With the suspension, public hospitals should provide regular care this Wednesday.

The CMD urged its members to stay tuned to official updates in the coming days about the meeting with the president and the progress of the talks.

Photo: Las Primicias

Source: Las Primicias