It is "unthinkable and unacceptable" to use the health and safety of patients as a pressure tool to achieve trade union and financial demands, says the Cyprus Patient Associations Federation (OSAK) in a statement.
In her statement she states that in an extraordinary session of the Executive Committee she discussed the issue of the previously announced strike of public doctors.
He notes that the right of workers to strike is respected and inalienable. However, when this right is applied in a way that affects patients, OSAK must react, as "it is unthinkable and unacceptable to use the safety, health and life of citizens as a tool of pressure to satisfy trade union and economic claims".
It also underlines that the decision to close Accident and Emergency Departments (AEDs) "cannot, under any circumstances, be accepted", as these Departments work to save lives and people's lives "cannot enter into the equation of any claim of any branch of workers, let alone doctors", as it states.
In addition, they note that the Ambulance Service, which belongs neither to the doctors, nor to OKYPY, but to the State and the citizens, may not be able to cope with the workload that will arise from the transfer of patients from state to private hospitals and there will be a high probability of delays and loss of life.
"As OSAK, we cannot but condemn the postponement of treatments, including chemotherapy, surgeries and scheduled appointments, since in many cases patients wait for months until the moment comes to be served", she adds in her statement, mentioning that the public health sector faces multiple and serious problems, especially in terms of comprehensive and quality service to our patients, and everyone involved and especially those who work in public hospitals should, to cooperate for their modernization and upgrading and not to constantly cause disturbance with their actions, endangering the patients as well as the Organization in which they work.
OSAK emphasizes that responsible trade unionism does not punish or endanger people's lives and health.
On the substance of the dispute between doctors and OKYPY, for the time being OSAK has decided not to take a position, following its standard policy of not getting involved in such issues. "However, we would be irresponsible if we did not emphasize the need for cooperation, which will help in the financial consolidation and autonomy of OKYpY. The financial soundness of the Organization is a matter that should concern all citizens, not excluding the workers in public hospitals", he concludes.
