Doctors' protest leaves one third of public without health care

While negotiations are in progress, no agreement has yet been reached. Due to the conflict, currently about one third of the public is without a family doctor, or basic health care services. Robert Sapa, the spokesperson for the doctors affiliated with the Porozumienie Zielonogórskie alliance, announced that yesterday 's talks with Health Minister Leszek Sikorski did not bring enough guarantees which would convince doctors to resume working normally, although negotiations will continue. Sapa added that the alliance was counting on the introduction of some temporary measures which would allow them to continue working without having to immediately sign a contract with the NFZ. The differences between the Fund, the doctors and the Health Ministry could be solved later, without the problem of leaving patients without basic health care services. (Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1,5) A.K.