Bolivia: national health strike leaves only emergencies over unpaid vaccination bonus

Bolivia's public health workers are holding a 24-hour national strike on Thursday to demand payment of the 2026 vaccination bonus, a measure that leaves only emergency services operating in the country's hospitals.

The strike was called by the National Confederation of Public Health Workers of Bolivia (CSTSPB), after the deadline agreed with the Ministry of Health to pay the benefit passed without the disbursement being made. The benefit is the Risk Bonus, known as the vaccination per diem, and according to union leaders the payment was due by October 30, under a commitment reached in a meeting with ministry representatives on October 23.

The dispute affects more than 20,000 workers across the country, according to a report by Red Uno. In Santa Cruz, the sector said the authorities owe more than 20 million bolivianos for this benefit to over 5,000 workers. «We waited and there was no payment», said union leader Esther Ortuste, who noted that the benefit must be paid every year.

The work stoppage is concentrated in outpatient consultations, where dozens of patients arrived at hospitals across the country on Thursday seeking care. Essential services remain in operation: emergencies, X-rays, laboratories, surgeries, therapy and hemodialysis, as well as care for patients on permanent treatment.

In La Paz, the medical care director of the Hospital de Clínicas said the strike will take place only this Thursday and ruled out an extension, adding that the hospital has made provisions for emergencies and is arranging care in oncology and oncohematology, as well as for patients from the provinces who traveled to the city for treatment. In Santa Cruz, by contrast, workers warned that if they do not receive a prompt response, they could extend the measure until Friday, November 6.

The dispute comes after the enactment of Law 1771 on September 30, 2026, which provides that payment of the vaccination per diem be assumed by the General Treasury of the Nation and the Ministry of Health and Sports, relieving the departmental governments of that financial obligation from the 2026 fiscal year onward.

Photo: La Razón

Source: La Razón and Punto Clave