Italians stage a street protest against the economic policies of the Berlusconi government. File photo
Italy’s medical workers are out on strike in protest to fiscal cuts in the heath sector, leaving patients stranded and forcing postponement of surgeries.
Hundreds of doctors, nurses and veterinarians held a demonstration on Monday in front of the House of Parliament in Rome to voice their anger at the cuts in health service budgets proposed the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Xinhua reported.
Striking health care workers hope their protest will convince Italian lawmakers to repeal the proposed measures that would lead to job cuts.
The strike rattled many Italian hospitals as trade unions announced more than 75 percent of doctors, nurses and hospital staffs took part in the walk-out.
Meanwhile, Massimo Cozza, the head of the Italian General Confederation of Labor, warned that “the government’s budget will have a drastic effect on the public health sector,” and will face the country with a loss of an estimated 30,000 doctors in the next four years.
The protest comes on the heels of a 24.9 billion euro ‘scrimp and save’ policy unveiled in May in an attempt to tackle the Italian government’s budget deficit.
Berlusconi has threatened to step down if the parliament fails to approve the budget plan, which was endorsed by the Senate last week.
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