Russian doctors have taken to the streets in a rare protest as thousands are set to lose their jobs and dozens of hospitals are due to shut in Moscow in controversial moves to modernise the creaking health system.
With white coats slung over their winter clothing, more than 6,000 doctors and nurses braved the November cold on Sunday to protest against the reforms to be enforced by Moscow’s city government.
According to documents leaked to Russian media, more than 7,000 doctors are to be dismissed and 28 hospitals and clinics are to close down in the city in the next few months. ‘We do need reform, but not conducted in such a disastrous way,’ said Pyotr, a 29-year-old doctor taking part in the protests who withheld his surname for fear of being fired.
With white coats slung over their winter clothing, more than 6,000 doctors and nurses braved the November cold on Sunday to protest against the reforms to be enforced by Moscow’s city government.
According to documents leaked to Russian media, more than 7,000 doctors are to be dismissed and 28 hospitals and clinics are to close down in the city in the next few months. ‘We do need reform, but not conducted in such a disastrous way,’ said Pyotr, a 29-year-old doctor taking part in the protests who withheld his surname for fear of being fired.