There wasn’t much hope to begin with. The talks between the doctor’s union and the government today were unlikely to reach a satisfactory conclusion given how the two side disagree on the direction of the privatisation of hospital management.
The government is not likely to budge. There’s too much money at stake flowing into pockets of people who hide their faces from us but not their greed. People are enriching themselves trading hospitals built and equipped at the cost of generations of tax-payers. They are pocketing profits trading your health as a commodity giving you nothing in return.
Doctors who work in these hospitals know better than any of us just what we are to expect. Their careers were dedicated to the provision of health services according to the patient’s need. But from professional experience they know how different it is to provide health services according to the owner’s profit and sales targets.
Doctors are striking tomorrow because they regret having given this charade a chance over the last two years. Funding for health services have been squandered. Investment in equipment and resources to take care of patient needs has been frozen. Control of hospital policy has been lost. And nothing was returned in exchange.
Doctors are not striking tomorrow because they want to work less hours, or because they want more money, or because they want more comfortable shoes. None of this is on the agenda of their dispute.
Doctors are striking tomorrow because they want to continue to be allowed to give you and your children the best healthcare they possibly can.
They are striking for your needs not theirs.