Hundreds of doctors in white smocks took to the streets of the Portuguese capital Wednesday, the first day of a two-day nationwide strike over sweeping austerity cuts to the health budget. The doctors, some also wearing black armbands to express mourning, gathered outside the health ministry, many holding placards with messages such as "Access for all and not just the rich".
The strike was set to trigger broad disruption to patients, with 400,000 appointments and nearly 4,500 operations cancelled, according to estimates from the Portuguese health ministry.
The government is slicing 800 million euros ($985 million) from the health budget to meet the terms of a multi-billion-euro bailout deal. The strike went ahead after unions rebuffed an offer of talks from Health Minister Paulo Maceo.
Doctors said a minimum service across health clinics and hospitals would be guaranteed.
"The national health service is under threat. They want to destroy it by creating disparities in who has access to care," said Miguel Cunha, a 49-year-old paediatrician. Twenty-five-year-old internist Eloisa Sobreira said she feared for her future as a doctor. "I'm here to protest the destruction of the health service and the end of medical careers," she said. Hospitals in Lisbon were much quieter than usual on Wednesday, although a few patients still waited hopefully for consultations.
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