Health system to strike nationwide on Monday in protest of violence against doctors

The Israel Medical Association announces a nationwide strike in the health system this coming Monday in protest of mounting cases of violence against medical staff.

All hospitals and clinics will operate on Monday on a limited basis, similar to what happens on the Shabbat Jewish day of rest. The Medical Association will operate a committee to decide on individual special cases.

“Striking is never our default, but violence in the health system has long become an epidemic and red lines are being crossed almost every day. On Monday, doctors say no to violence, no to lawlessness,” says association chairman Prof. Zion Hagay.

Yesterday, the Medical Association held a three-hour strike at Soroka over an incident on Tuesday in which parents assaulted and lightly injured a doctor over a delay in treating their toddler son. The parents have been arrested and indicted.

Another case of violence earlier today against a doctor in Ramle caused the association to call the meeting that has now yielded the announcement of the nationwide strike.