Demonstrations were held in several major cities in Poland on Saturday in a display of support for resident doctors on hunger strike. Young doctors protested outside the Prime Minister's Chancellery in Warsaw on Saturday. In Warsaw, the protesters submitted a list of demands to the Prime Minister’s Office. Similar demonstrations were held in the cities of Szczecin, Poznań and Kielce. “This is a historic moment for us as Poland is enjoying economic prosperity, good macroeconomic conditions and, most of all, we see a declared will to come to an agreement on the authorities’ part, as well as determination to improve the situation in the country’s healthcare system,” said Łukasz Jankowski from the OZZL medical practitioners’ union. Students, resident doctors and other medical practitioners picketing in Katowice on Saturday. As well as pay hikes, the resident doctors are demanding increased funding for public health care, better working conditions, less red tape and shorter waiting lists. Recent meetings with Prime Minister Beata Szydło, Health Minister Konstanty Radziwiłł and Beata Kempa, head of the Prime Minister’s Office, have brought no breakthrough in talks. Some 40 physicians are currently on hunger strike, most of them resident doctors. Source
