PA signs deal to end doctors’ strike

The Palestinian government signed an agreement with the Palestine Doctors’ Association putting an end to weeks of protests and strikes.

Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh announced the signing of the deal at the start of his cabinet’s weekly meeting, which was held in Ramallah. No details were provided as to what the agreement entailed.

The head of the medical association, Dr. Shawky Sabha, told Al-Ayyam newspaper that he had signed the agreement with Health Minister, Mai Kaileh, in her office in Ramallah, adding the Director-General of the Independent Commission for Human Rights, Ammar Dweik, was also in attendance since the commission sponsored the dialogue between the two sides.

Sabha said the agreement stipulated several issues, including raising the allowance for general physicians working in public health institutions from 150 per cent to 200 per cent as of 2022 and resolving all outstanding issues related to other doctors.

The agreement also stipulated to return all funds deducted from the salaries of doctors working in the public sector who had participated in the strikes.

The Doctors Association announced in a statement, the immediate resumption of work in all hospitals, medical and emergency centres.

OPINION: How one particular charity is improving the lives of Gaza amputees