Family doctors protest in several counties, to go on general strike on November 15

Family doctors in several counties are staging protests on Thursday, over discontent with the sub financing of the primary medical assistance in Romania and over excessive red tape in the system. They have also announced they would go on general strike on November 15.

They say it’s impossible for them to do their job under these circumstances, also arguing they are rather doing the job of a clerk than the one of a doctor.

The protesters warn that “the entire system will collapse and will let millions of patients without medical assistance that they are entitled to as tax payers,” reads a press release.

Protests are simultaneously taking place in Bucharest, Brăila, Piteşti, Târgu-Mureş, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, Hunedoara, Craiova, Droberta Turnu-Severin, Ploieşti, Râmnicu-Vâlcea and Miercurea Ciuc.

On the other hand, the president of the National Society of Family Doctors, Rodica Tanasescu, has announced that family doctors would go on general strike on November 15 and would also stage a protest in Victoriei Square in Bucharest.

“The protest will take place to warn over our problems. Our relation with the patients has disappeared for there are problems related to releasing the prescriptions. That’s why the legislation must be amended,” Tanasescu said.