Health ministry proposal for doctors’ overtime pay unacceptable – union

FNAM, the Portuguese national federation of doctors considers “unacceptable” the proposal by the ministry of health on overtime after a meeting yesterday in which additional work in emergency services was discussed. According to FNAM chair Joana Bordalo overtime pay for doctors, depending on age, varies in the proposal from between €20 and €40 per hour, when amounts previously in force ranged from €50 to €70 per hour. FNAM has already announced a strike from 00.00 hours on March 8 to midnight on March 9. Minimum services are assured, including provision of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, dialysis, internal emergencies, essential acts for the dispensation of drugs for hospital use only and immunohemotherapy with connection to blood donors, organ harvesting and transplants.