[Onthebarricades] Health protests, Apr-Aug 2008

[Andy]

ON THE BARRICADES:  Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/



*  IRELAND:  Protest over waiting lists at Waterford hospital

*  US:  Louisville protest for healthcare

*  AUSTRALIA:  Rural doctors protest changes

*  AUSTRIA:  Doctors strike over "reform"

*  IRELAND:  4000 rally against Sligo cancer care withdrawal

*  US:  North Carolina "mental health" workers protest unsafe conditions

*  INDIA:  Protests over health policies, drug taxes, shortages

*  INDIA:  Protest of privatisation of cleaning at medical college

*  US:  Protest over closure of therapeutic pool

*  US:  Nursing home cuts opposed

*  AUSTRALIA:  Workers wear black in "mental health" protest; "demand 
exceeds supply"

*  CZECH REPUBLIC:  Protests against health "reform"

*  INDIA:  Protest after deaths

*  PHILIPPINES:  Village protests loss of health centre, market

*  SCOTLAND:  Protest saves hospital bus service

*  UK:  Massive petition opposes "supersurgeries"

*  IRELAND:  Health workers protest cutbacks

*  UGANDA:  MP camps at hospital to highlight poor conditions

*  ZAMBIA:  Pregnant women protest withdrawal of night sevices

*  US, Florida:  McCain fundraiser targeted over healthcare

*  INDIA:  Snakebite death, lack of antivenom protested

*  UK:  Stafford vigil for NHS

*  INDIA:  Death sparks protest at railway hospital

*  CANADA:  Protest against closure of emergency room

*  INDIA:  Protests for vaccine production

*  INDIA:  Relatives protest at hospital

*  AUSTRALIA:  Protest over health reform

*  AUSTRALIA:  Paramedics give free rides in protest

*  US, California:  Asian-Americans protest for medical benefits

*  BULGARIA:  Doctors plan nationwide protests

*  AUSTRALIA:  Paramedics protest at NSW parliament

*  AUSTRALIA:  Children, MP protest for smoking restrictions

*  INDIA:  Paramedics in protest fast for regularisation

*  UGANDA:  HIV/AIDS survivors protest murder

*  US:  New Mexico protest for pain therapy

*  INDIA:  Government doctors protest

*  US, Boston:  Nurses protest low pay, staffing


http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0512/waterford.html

Protest over wait lists at Waterford hospital
Monday, 12 May 2008 16:27
Protestors gathered outside the gates of Waterford Regional Hospital this 
morning.
The peaceful protest was being held in frustration at long waiting lists at 
the hospital.
The father of an 11-year-old girl, who was among the protestors, says his 
daughter has already been waiting two-and-a-half years to get her tonsils 
removed.
The girl is currently in hospital receiving treatment for severe 
tonsillitis, which could be relieved if her tonsils were removed.
She has asked Health Minister Mary Harney to come to her bedside and explain 
to her why she must wait another possible two to three years to have her 
operation.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/NEWS01/806200442/1008/rss01

Louisville protest calls for single-payer health-care system
Say government gives insurance companies too much power on care
By J.D. Williams . jdwilliams at courier-journal.com . June 20, 2008
With the assistance of crutches, Steve Skvari walked with demonstrators 
gathered on Main Street across from Humana's corporate headquarters.
An auto accident left the 61-year-old with a compound fracture in one of his 
knees and reliant on the crutches. While he has health insurance, he said 
his wife does not.
Skvari joined more than 50 demonstrators who want health insurance to be 
available for all Americans regardless of economic status or employment.
Skvari said the American people are at fault for letting the government fail 
to provide health coverage to all citizens and instead give health insurance 
corporations too much power in deciding who gets health care.
The gathering was part of National Day of Protest Against Health Insurance 
Corporations, an event sponsored by a collaboration of groups that support a 
national health insurance program.
The demonstration was timed to coincide with America's Health Insurance 
Plans' national convention in San Francisco. The group is a "national 
association representing nearly 1,300 insurance companies," the group's Web 
site said.
Demonstrations like the one in Louisville were planned in more than a dozen 
cities, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, according 
to a press release from Physicians for a National Health Program, one of the 
group's backing the events.
In Louisville, demonstrators used signs and their voices to express support 
for a single-payer health-care system.
"It's a desperate need because people are hurting so badly," said Dr. 
Garrett Adams, the Kentucky coordinator for Physicians for a National Heath 
Program who was at the demonstration.
Adams said that more than 20,000 Americans die every year "because they 
can't afford to get to a doctor."
"It's a crying shame," Adams said.
Tom Noland, a spokesman for Humana, said the company also believes that all 
Americans should have affordable and quality health insurance.
"That appears to be the position taken by protesters," he said.
Humana, however, does not support a single-payer health-care system. Noland 
said that "Americans should have choices rather than a one-size-fits-all 
government system."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/18/2278852.htm

Country doctors protest in Adelaide
Posted Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:49pm AEST
Updated Wed Jun 18, 2008 7:13pm AEST

Several hundred rural doctors and community members have protested against 
proposed changes to the rural health system. (ABC News: Angela Cordon)
Map: Adelaide 5000
Related Story: PM's intervention urged in country health plan
The Rural Doctors Association claims ambulance services will be overwhelmed 
with patients if the South Australian country health system is restructured.
Several hundred doctors and community members protested against the proposed 
changes outside Parliament House today.
The State Government wants to centralise health services to four major 
regional centres - Whyalla, Berri, Port Lincoln and Mount Gambier.
But the Association's vice president, Dr Peter Rischbieth, says the plan 
lacks clinical standards.
"If we lose our hospitals they are downgraded, we lose our procedural 
services, other doctors, nurses and other health professionals will leave 
our communities and in the end the patients in the communities will be the 
ones who will suffer," he said.
"So please everybody this is about communities and health care and health 
outcomes, we must stop this plan immediately."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/16/europe/EU-GEN-Austria-Doctors-Strike.php

Austrian doctors on strike to protest healthcare reform

The Associated Press
Published: June 16, 2008


VIENNA, Austria: Austrian doctors are staging a one-day strike to protest 
the government's attempts to overhaul the health care system.
Organizers say some 15,000 doctors' offices are staying closed during 
Monday's walkout. But they say that patients requiring emergency care will 
not be jeopardized.
Physicians are trying to pressure lawmakers to abandon a plan to restructure 
the state-run health insurance system. They say the reforms would result in 
more bureaucratic hurdles and put pressure on hospitals.
Doctors also say the reforms would cut their contracts with the national 
system to five years at a time and disregard the notion that everyone, 
regardless of age or economic status, should have access to the best 
possible medical care.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/26/europe/EU-GEN-Austria-Doctors-Strike.php

Austrian doctors resume strike to protest health care reform

The Associated Press
Published: June 26, 2008

VIENNA, Austria: Doctors are on a two-day strike across Austria to protest 
government plans to overhaul the health care system.
Organizers say about 15,000 doctors' offices will stay closed Thursday and 
Friday, though some physicians will treat patients needing emergency care. 
Dentists are not participating in the strike.
Physicians want lawmakers to abandon a plan to restructure the state-run 
health insurance system. They say the reforms would result in more 
bureaucratic hurdles and pressure on hospitals that could jeopardize the 
notion that everyone regardless of income is entitled to the best possible 
medical care.
Doctors first went on strike June 16.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0426/health.html

4,000 in Sligo cancer care protest
Saturday, 26 April 2008
About 4,000 people have attended a protest march and rally in Sligo calling 
for the retention and improvement of cancer services at Sligo General 
Hospital.
The organisers say they are buoyed by the turnout and now intend to 
intensify the campaign.
People marched from Sligo Institute of Technology to O'Connell Street for 
the rally and concert with leading artists including Dervish lending their 
support.
Advertisement
The aim of the march is to send a message to Government that people in the 
northwest will not stand for the removal of cancer services already in 
existence in Sligo General.
Protestors are complaining that under the National Cancer Strategy there 
will be no centre of excellence for cancer care north of a line from Galway 
to Dublin.
This means that very ill people will be forced to travel lengthy journeys to 
Dublin or Galway for their treatment, organisers say.
The move would have a major impact on people in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and 
Roscommon, they add.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1049851.html

Mental health workers hold protest
By David Bracken, Staff WriterComment on this story
RALEIGH - About 20 state mental health workers picketed at the entrance to 
Dorothea Dix Hospital today, saying they face unsafe conditions in North 
Carolina's psychiatric hospitals.
The workers demanded increased staffing and pay, and they said they would 
not be scapegoated for the problems caused by the state's attempt to reform 
its mental-health system.
In the seven years since the state decided to reform the system, "things 
haven't gotten better," said Larsene Taylor, 58, a health technician at 
Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro.
"Injuries have increased among employees and patients. We're not going to 
take the blame for it."
Taylor said employees are required to work overtime to make up for the lack 
of staffing, which is hurting morale and causing experienced people to 
leave.
Workers also complained of the uncertainty created by the state's plan to 
close Dix. Dix's closing has been delayed several times.
"They can't keep peoples lives on hold," said Steve Hardison, 44, a health 
technician at Dix.
Today's event was organized by the N.C. Public Service Workers Union, which 
represents more than 500 employees at the state's psychiatric hospitals.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042553220300.htm

Medical representatives protest against Centre's policies
Staff Correspondent

Seeking a better deal: Medical representatives, under the aegis of the 
Karnataka State Medical and Sales Representatives' Association, staging a 
protest in Hubli on Thursday.
HUBLI: Members of the Karnataka State Medical and Sales Representatives' 
Association and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a 
demonstration here on Thursday to protest against what they termed as 
"unfair" policies of the Union Government.
The demonstration was held in response to the nationwide protest call given 
by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Association to press 
for its demands.
Later, the protesters took out a rally to highlight their demands.
They demanded to the Government to cut the excise duty on essential drugs, 
and stop proliferation of spurious drugs and unfair trade and marketing 
practices.
They criticised the Government for not taking steps to check the spiralling 
prices of medicines. They also demanded framing of stringent laws to punish 
companies manufacturing spurious drugs and those involved in unfair trading 
of medicines.
The medical and sales representatives also demanded framing of rules 
restricting their working hours to eight hours a day.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042551030300.htm

Medical reps hold protest rally
Special Correspondent
Nationwide agitation for comprehensive drug policy

Tax rate of 16 per cent imposed on life-saving drugs
Some States given exemption from tax including income tax

KURNOOL: Medical representatives led by Medical and Sales Representatives 
Union took out a rally here on Thursday as part of the nationwide strike for 
comprehensive drug policy.
Addressing the meeting, the union leaders said the UPA government promised 
to ensure proper supply of essential drugs in the common minimum programme 
but nothing had happened. The government had imposed a tax rate of 16 per 
cent on life-saving drugs.
Now, the tax was calculated against the maximum retail price (MRP) instead 
of the previous system of production cost. As a result, whenever the MRP was 
revised the tax rate had also gone up.
They said some of the States were given exemption from tax including income 
tax. The drug companies from the low-cost States were dumping their products 
in other places causing serious problem to the companies, which complied 
with the tax rates.
Above all, the government and the agencies had failed to contain marketing 
of spurious drugs.
Apart from the issues concerning the common man, the sales representatives 
also faced serious trouble as sales promotion was not considered an 
industry. No work schedule was fixed for the sales staff.
The demands of the union include lifting of excise duty on life-saving 
drugs, reduction in excise duty to four per cent on other drugs, review of 
concession to certain States, tax calculation on production cost, steps to 
check spurious drugs and action against the companies which influenced 
doctors to improve sales.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/22/stories/2008052251370300.htm

All-India Youth Federation plans protest tomorrow
Correspondent
'UPA Government has not honoured any of its promises'

VIZIANAGARAM: The All-India Youth Federation (AIYF) will stage protests in 
all district headquarters and municipal corporations against the policies of 
the UPA Government on May 23.
At a press conference on Wednesday, federation's State general secretary G. 
Eswaraiah said that the protests were planned on the day when the UPA 
Government would be completing four years in office. The government did not 
honour any of the promises it made during its four-year rule, he said, and 
asked the youth to sport black badges on that day.
Mr. Eswaraiah said that the AIYF would also be conducting round-table and 
group meetings next month as part of the federation's golden jubilee 
celebrations and also stage protests at all the Drug Control Offices in 
districts against its failure to control sale of spurious drugs in the 
market.
In accordance with the findings of World Health Organisation, the sale of 
bogus drugs was to the tune of Rs.400 crores in the State and Rs. 38,000 
crores across the nation, he said. AISF district general-secretary B. Ashok 
was present.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/25/stories/2008042553370300.htm

KSMSRA stages protest
Staff Correspondent
Centre urged to withdraw excise duty on medicines

Raising slogans: Members of the Karnataka State Medical and Sales 
Representatives' Association staging a protest in Mysore on Thursday.
MYSORE: Members of the Karnataka State Medical and Sales Representatives' 
Association (KSMSRA) staged a protest here on Thursday in response to a call 
given by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Association of 
India (FMRAI) for a nation-wide agitation in support of their demands.
The members took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy 
Commissioner.
In a statement issued here, the association said that more than 65 per cent 
of the people of the country were deprived of modern medicines. "Prices of 
medicines are rising due to faulty policy of the Union Government," it 
alleged.
It said that many medicines were beyond the reach of the common man. 
Medicines had been kept on the higher slab of 16 per cent excise duty. Not 
only this, excise duty fixation had been changed by the Government from 
cost-based to MRP-based in 2005. Because of this, minimum excise duty on 
essential medicines had touched 19.2 per cent as proportion of excise duty 
went up with the increase of MRP, the association said.
The association urged the Centre to withdraw the excise duty on essential 
medicines and cut excise duty to four per cent on other medicines.
It also urged the Government to review the excise duty policy and income tax 
exemption on medicines in some States.
The statement said that the other demands of the association included steps 
to check fake drugs and law to punish manufacturers and sellers of fake 
drugs.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/23/stories/2008042353320300.htm

Protest against privatisation
BERHAMPUR: The MKCG Medical College unit of the Orissa Medical Workers' 
Union (OMWU) protested against the process of privatisation of cleaning of 
the medical college on Tuesday.
They submitted a memorandum with a charter of 11 demands to the Revenue 
Divisional Commissioner (RDC), southern division. The secretary of the 
union, Sukanta Mukhi, said the privatisation process would mar the 
livelihood of sanitary workers employed in the medical college till now.

http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/440158.html

50 people, many disabled, eldery, protest closing of therapeutic pool
By KERI BRENNER | . Published May 06, 2008
Comments (10)
OLYMPIA - Thurston County will decide in two weeks whether to grant a permit 
that would lead to the Discover Aquatics indoor saltwater swimming pool 
being turned into a medical office building.
More than 50 residents protested the move today at a public hearing.
The residents, many of them disbled or elderly, said they depend on the 
facility for their only exercise because of its warmer 88-degree temperature 
and lack of chlorine.
County hearing examiner Jim Driscoll said the lease contract for the pool, 
at 110 Delphi Road N.W., was a private matter between tenants Discover 
Aquatics, operated by Holly and Brian Nichols, and building owners Dr. Eric 
and Jeanette Klein.
Driscoll said he could only rule on whether the special-use permit met 
county zoning code guidelines -- not whether the pool could continue to 
operate.
The Kleins intend to convert the 8,000-square-foot building into three 
medical offices. They said they tried to find a way to save the pool and 
still have the operation be financially feasible but could not find a 
partner interested in the project.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/nursing_home_protest_04-30-08_SR9V32H_v29.3733185.html

Nursing home cuts decried
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, April 30, 2008
By Jennifer D. Jordan

Journal Staff Writer

Sisters Barbara, left, and Elaine Cenci, of Providence, attend a rally in 
the State House to voice opposition to proposed budget cuts to nursing home 
care. At right is Fred Cafaro, of Providence, a volunteer at Elmhurst 
Extended Care.

The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch
PROVIDENCE - Ninety-four-year-old Marie Baton trekked to the State House 
yesterday afternoon, possibly the oldest of several hundred advocates for 
the elderly who rallied to protest proposed cuts to nursing homes.
"I think we need more money, not less," Baton said as she stood on the 
rotunda steps clutching a blue and white sign that said, "Save our seniors! 
No cuts to nursing home care!"
She was one of just two of the 112 residents at the South Kingstown Nursing 
and Rehabilitation Center who was up to making the trip, said nursing home 
administrator Clarissa B. Reynolds.
"The proposed cuts, for us, would be devastating," Reynolds said. "I would 
have to cut $70,000 from my facility and we would have to cut back on the 
hours of nursing care we provide. The quality of care would go down."
In an effort to bridge a projected $385-million deficit for the coming 
fiscal year, Republican Governor Carcieri has proposed a series of cuts 
across virtually all areas of state government. Nursing home advocates say 
that two areas targeted for reduction in their budget are untenable and 
would result in the loss of matching federal money: delaying payment of an 
annual inflationary increase and reducing the labor reimbursement that 
nursing homes receive.
The proposed cuts are now in the hands of the Democratic-led state 
legislature, which must hash out its own spending plan. "What these cuts 
mean is that nursing home residents will have to wait a little longer for 
help," said Virginia M. Burke, president of the Rhode Island Health Care 
Association, as hundreds of protesters assembled on the steps of the rotunda 
and filled the second-floor balcony. "These cuts will have a real human 
impact."
Approximately 9,000 Rhode Islanders live in nursing homes.
Under the governor's spending plan, the state would save $1.9 million of 
state money by delaying the inflation increase. Nursing home advocates point 
out that by doing so, the nursing homes would lose an additional $2.1 
million in matching Medicaid funds - a net decrease of $4 million. And since 
the inflationary increase comes one to two years after nursing homes have 
already paid their bills, the nursing homes are not being reimbursed for 
money they have already spent, Burke said.Last year, a similar delay cost 
Rhode Island nursing homes $7 million, "in money they've already spent and 
will never get back," Burke said.
The other proposed cut would save the state $2.4 million by lowering the 
amount that nursing homes are reimbursed for labor costs. Advocates say the 
nursing homes would lose an equal amount in matching federal money.
One local nursing home would have to lay off 12 percent of its staff in 
order to break even after the cuts, said Richard Gamache, administrator of 
the Elmhurst Extended Care Facility.
"When elders call the bell for help, who will be there? Who will help them 
get to a bathroom or help with meals or soiled sheets," Gamache asked the 
cheering crowd. "Is that acceptable to you? These cuts are not only 
unacceptable - they are insane."
Earlier in the day, the issue of nursing home spending came up during the 
Revenue Estimating Conference at the State House.
The news on state savings was mixed.
Budget writers had anticipated a larger dip in the number of people 
receiving cash aid from the state's Family Independence Program. While 
banking on a 13.5-percent drop in the program's caseload, legislators only 
got an 8.8-percent decline and spending is running $2.3 million over the 
$53.6 million for the program in the current-year budget, a shortfall not 
addressed in the deficit-closing bill passed by the House last week.
However, the state Department of Human Services projects $23.9 million in 
Medicaid savings - assuming the state takes controversial cost-savings 
steps, including one that helped ignite yesterday's protest rally. That move 
would reduce nursing home reimbursements for labor from 125 percent to 110 
percent of the statewide median cost.
Other savings are attributable to a drop in RIte Care enrollments. 
Department of Human Services expected a drop-off in the state subsidized 
health-insurance program for families after the state last year required 
proof of identity and documentation of citizenship. DHS Deputy Director John 
Young said 5,000 applications were denied for lack of documentation, but 
that only partially explains the drop-off.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/19/2248539.htm

Workers don black in mental health protest
Posted Mon May 19, 2008 9:29am AEST
Map: Wollongong 2500
Illawarra Mental Health service workers will this week highlight problems in 
the local system by wearing black all week.
Illawarra Mental Health workers are taking the action in support the 
region's chief psychiatrist, Associate Professor Dr Irwin Pakula, who 
resigned in protest earlier this month.
The New South Wales Nurses Association assistant secretary, Judith Keijda, 
says heavy demand on the system is making it difficult to provide good care 
for patients.
"The demand for services is far outweighing the ability to provide those 
services and those in control of delivering those services have to pull 
their heads out of the sand, work out what the issues are [and] put systems 
in place to ensure patients are getting good quality care for their mental 
illnesses," she said.

http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=313070

European doctors support protests against Czech health reform
Prague- The European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS) today supported 
the protest of Czech doctors and nurses against the planned reform of the 
Czech health care system, FEMS head Claude Wetzel told journalists in 
Prague.
FEMS has over one million members. Its representatives unanimously agreed 
with the criticism of the Czech reform plans.
Czech Health Minister Tomas Julinek challenged FEMS's competence to assess 
the reform.
"They are union activists...If they received false information from Czech 
union leaders, they of course warn about something that is not threatening," 
Julinek told CTK in reaction.
Wetzel said FEMS was seriously concerned about the planned privatisation in 
Czech health care and feared that the quality of health care services would 
worsen.
FEMS considers the planned health reform of the Czech government an untested 
experiment that goes against the European tradition of health care provided 
on the basis of solidarity.
Wetzel warned about the sale of health insurance companies and teaching 
hospitals, saying the project was unprecedented in Europe.
He pointed out that health care cannot be controlled only by market 
mechanisms as it is considered a service performed in public interest.
Wetzel, who is French, recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) 
named France as the country with the best health care system. France 
developed such a system also by removing the competition between the public 
and private sectors and by keeping the responsibility for health care 
provision with the state, he said.
As far as health care was concerned, FEMS trusted organisations of patients 
and health care personnel rather than politicians.
Marian Kollar from the Slovak Unions Club warned the Czech Republic not to 
take the path of Slovakia that had big problems though it implemented only a 
part of the planned health care reform of the former right-wing government, 
including the privatisation of health insurance companies.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/21/stories/2008052162060300.htm

Death of woman, baby sparks protest
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: Tension prevailed for a while in a Bhruhat Bangalore Mahanagara 
Palike (BBMP) hospital near Bhashyam Circle following a death of a 
20-year-old woman and a new born child. According to police, Sangeeta (20), 
a resident of Gangondanahalli, got admitted to the hospital two days ago and 
delivered a baby girl on Tuesday. Both mother and the child died later. The 
relatives of Sangeeta got angry over the attitude of the hospital staff and 
destroyed some furniture. They sat on protest demanding action against some 
of the hospital staff.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Harishekaran went to hospital and 
called the jurisdictional BBMP Joint Commissioner. The BBMP Joint 
Commissioner promised to action and urged Ms. Sangeeta's relatives to end 
their protest. The BBMP has initiated a disciplinary inquiry against the 
hospital staff.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view/20080603-140466/Intramuros-villages-protest-loss-of-market-health-center

Intramuros villages protest loss of market, health center
Harper: Protesters being 'used' by debtor
By Izah Morales, Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 12:52:00 06/03/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Residents and officials of five barangay 
(villages) in Intramuros, Manila staged a picket against Intramuros 
administrator Anna Maria "Bambi" Harper, who they blame for the loss of 
their market and health center.
Reporters on their way to interview Harper on preparations for Independence 
Day chanced on the protest by some 100 persons outside the office of the 
Intramuros Administration.
According to chairman June Yacob of Barangay 655, Zone 69, District 5, 
Harper, who is also a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent 
company of INQUIRER.net), allegedly ordered the demolition of the Intramuros 
Talipapa (wet market) and the transfer of the Intramuros Health Center (IHC) 
to Baseco without the consent of barangay captains in the area.
But Harper belied Yacob's claim, saying she scheduled two meetings but the 
chairman was unavailable on both occasions.
Harper added that the wet market that was demolished was situated in the 
middle of the road and was obstructing the traffic in the area.
The IHC, on the other hand, was transferred because it was located in a 
flood-prone area, Harper said. She added that the IHC would serve more 
people now that it is in Baseco since the area has a bigger population.
Harper said she suspects the residents are being used by a person the 
Intramuros Administration is suing for unpaid debts of P12 to the 
government. However, Harper refused to disclose the person's identity.
She added that the Intramuros Businessmen Association and Intramuros 
Residents' Association are planning to file a request for the removal of 
illegal settlers in private properties within the historic quarter.
"It [Intramuros] does not belong to me and neither does it belong to them," 
Harper said. "It belongs to the Filipino people."

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/39Vital39-hospital-bus-service-is.4139291.jp

'Vital' hospital bus service is saved in U-turn after protest
Published Date: 31 May 2008
By ALAN RODEN
A BUS service to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary has been saved from the axe 
after 2000 residents backed a local campaign.
The Lothian Buses number 18 Sunday service was described as a "vital link" 
for residents in south Edinburgh who need to travel to the hospital or the 
Gyle shopping centre.

The U-turn by the Lib Dem/SNP administration, which had planned to withdraw 
the council's subsidy, means buses will run for at least another six 
months - at a cost of around £12,000 - while alternative ways to safeguard 
their long-term future are examined.

At the same time, city councillors have voted to secure the number 13 
service in north Edinburgh until at least next March.

Earlier this year it was decided to stop serving Blackhall outside peak 
hours, which also sparked protests. The local community council said elderly 
people would struggle to get to the shops, library or chemist.

The future of both bus services has repeatedly been put at risk in recent 
years, as they are not profitable for Lothian Buses. The number 18 service 
was saved at this week's full council meeting, following a plea from 
Colinton and Fairmilehead Tory councillor Jason Rust, who helped gather 2000 
signatures for a petition.

He said today: "This is a victory for common sense and great news for my 
constituents. The 18 bus Sunday service is a vital, socially necessary 
service of real importance to the people of south Edinburgh."

The Sunday service ceased last weekend but Lothian Buses will now write to 
the Traffic Commissioner and ask to reinstate it.

Local campaigner Irene Paterson, 66, neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for 
Hunter's Tryst, said: "I'm delighted that the bus company have agreed to 
return the service."

Campaigners also welcomed the vote on the number 13 service, which followed 
a motion by Inverleith Labour councillor Lesley Hinds. Lothian Buses 
originally said the service cost £8.20 subsidy per passenger, but passenger 
numbers have recently more than doubled. The new annual subsidy will be 
£49,130.

Blackhall Community Association chairwoman Tina Woolnough said: "Research 
has shown the community relies on this bus service and I hope we can build 
on the passenger numbers."

City transport leader Phil Wheeler said: "I agreed to reinstate the subsidy 
for six months. But I must stress that if patronage does not increase it is 
unlikely the subsidy will continue."

http://itn.co.uk/news/556b9a177c4084f588a8c9d12e05e44e.html

Supersurgery protest goes to No 10
Updated 13.58 Thu Jun 12 2008
Keywords: bma, polyclinics, supersurgery
More than a million patients have signed a petition against so-called 
supersurgeries.
Representatives from the British Medical Association are handing it in to 
Downing Street later.
"People want to be treated as patients, not customers" - Dr Laurence Buckman
The BMA is angry at proposals to introduce one-stop polyclinics which they 
claim could mark the end of local GP clinics as we know them.
But Health Minister Ben Bradshaw accused it of "misleading and mendacious" 
behaviour in amassing 1.2 million signatories on its petition.
The doctors' body rejected the claims and challenged the Government to 
forward any instances of inaccuracies or pressure on patients to support its 
campaign.
According to the BMA, GP practices will close as new "supersurgeries", 
housing GPs and other services such as blood tests and X-rays, are created.
Its petition also calls on ministers to stop encouraging use of private 
firms to deliver primary care - something the BMA calls "creeping 
commercialisation".
Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee, will hand the 
petition in to Downing Street after making a speech to the BMA's Local 
Medical Committee (LMC) conference.
He is expected to tell delegates: "We will deliver a stark message to the 
Prime Minister.
"If the Government won't listen to you, their doctors, then surely it will 
listen to the 1.2 million men and women who call for a halt to the plans to 
promote the use of commercial companies in general practice.
"Voters don't want funding to move from GP practices to commercial companies 
who are accountable primarily to shareholders rather than patients. They 
want to be treated as patients, not customers.
"My message to Gordon Brown is this: 'Whatever you think of GPs, take note 
of what your electorate thinks. Work with us to improve the service, not 
against us, and ignore at your peril the wishes of the most important people 
in the NHS - the patients'."

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhgbojgbcwau/rss2/

30,000 health workers protest over HSE cutbacks

11/06/2008 - 16:10:17
Almost 30,000 health workers staged lunchtime protests around the country 
today over HSE cutbacks.

Since last month IMPACT members have been working to rule to highlight the 
effect staffing shortages are having on the health service.

The protests come as IMPACT officials warn of further serious cuts over the 
coming months including the loss of a hundred posts in the Dublin and Mid 
Leinster region and a region-wide overtime ban.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0611/health.html?rss

Lunchtime protests by health workers
Wednesday, 11 June 2008 22:25
Health service workers belonging to the IMPACT trade union held lunchtime 
protests at 28 venues nationwide.
28,000 workers staged lunchtime protests today to highlight their dispute 
over staffing levels, which the IMPACT trade union claims is affecting 
patient services.
The staff, including therapists, managerial and administrative grades, claim 
that a recruitment embargo by the HSE has left 2,700 jobs unfilled and is 
affecting patient services.
Advertisement
The HSE has said there is no embargo on recruitment in the health service.
It has invited IMPACT to talks on Monday in a bid to resolve the dispute.
The HSE has also warned staff that they could face disciplinary measures if 
the protests escalate.
Since last month, 28,000 IMPACT members in the health service have been 
working to rule over staffing levels. They have refused to co-operate with 
management systems, but insist they are avoiding any effect on patient care.
Last Monday, they escalated their non-cooperation to include reporting 
procedures.
Today, they began protests at 12.30pm at 28 venues nationwide. IMPACT 
insisted that the protests, which ran until 2pm, would not compromise 
patient care.
However, last Friday the HSE wrote to individual staff warning them that if 
their work to rule worsens, they could face disciplinary measures - 
including suspension.
IMPACT retaliated by warning that any attempt by the HSE to penalise its 
members for obeying union instructions would result in an immediate response 
without further warning.
So far no such disciplinary action has been taken. It is understood that if 
the protest starts to affect the core duties of staff, that could change.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806110805.html

Uganda: Lyomoki Camps At Hospital to Protests Poor Conditions

The Monitor (Kampala)
11 June 2008
Posted to the web 11 June 2008
David Mafabi
Mbale
Workers MP Sam Lyomoki on Tuesday defied orders by Mbale Hospital 
administration and camped at the hospital throughout the night protesting 
what he calls deteriorating health conditions in the country.
Dr Lyomoki, who slept at the hospital's Masaba Wing on Tuesday, is expected 
to leave the hospital today after sleeping in different wards.
The hospital principle administrator, Mr Henry Lwigale, while meeting Dr 
Lyomoki asked him not to camp at the hospital, saying it was not the right 
way of solving the problems surrounding the health sector.
"True the health situation is bad but the approach is not good. The hospital 
authorities are not aware of your presence and we cannot allow you to camp 
here to inconvenience the patients," Mr Lwigale told the minister.
Efforts by the Mbale RDC, Mr Lubowa and the Diso, Mr Bigabwa Kasaija, to 
have Dr Lyomoki leave the hospital fell on deaf ears.
"We are advising you to keep out of this hospital for security reasons. I 
have enough personnel to drag you out of here. I have only allowed you to be 
in the hospital up to 9pm. After that, I will forcefully carry you out," Mr 
Kasaija said.
A determined Dr Lyomoki insisted he would stay at the hospital and talk to 
the patients as well as study how patients are attended to after 2am.
"I am ready to stay here without security and if your problem is my sleeping 
here, then I am going to work the whole night, this is a public place and I 
am a legislator," Dr Lyomoki said.
Intervention by the District Police Commander, Mr Abbey Kisubi, did not 
yield much. "We have given up. Let him stay but he will be monitored 
throughout the night," a statement issued by the security bosses said.
"If the hospital administration thinks there is nothing bad taking place 
here, they should allow me to stay, talk to the patients and monitor the 
work of the medical staff," said Dr Lyomoki.
Dr Lyomoki said he intended to mobilize patients and health workers against 
the poor conditions and cause reform.
He said although there are many problems affecting the health sector, the 
government has merely window staged the service provision to impress donors 
but that on the real ground people are dying of preventable disease like flu 
and cough.
He criticised the government for using social indicators like infant 
mortality rates and life expectancy for political propaganda instead of 
tackling the problems affecting the entire health sector in the country.
He revealed that although the problems of the health system like inadequate 
medical staff, medicine, poor remuneration for health workers, poor funding 
from the central government and poor communication have been analysed and 
remedies recommended, the government has done nothing to change the 
situation.
Dr Lyomoki while touring the hospital said non performance by health workers 
was escalating the death rate. He said from Mbale, he would camp in Bududa, 
Tororo, Bugiri, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Arua, Masindi, Fortpotal, Kabale, Masaka 
and conclude with Mulago Hospital where a petition signed by patients would 
be delivered to the Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200806060658.html

Zambia: Insecure Pregnant Women Protest in Kitwe

The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
6 June 2008
Posted to the web 6 June 2008
Ndola
MORE than 50 pregnant women from Kitwe's Kawama Township yesterday morning 
protested over lack of security at Kawama Clinic which has forced nurses and 
health personnel to stop working at night.
Nurses at Kawama Clinic have withdrawn from night shifts after an April 
incidence in which armed robbers attacked and stole a number of items from 
the institution before stripping them naked.
The women abandoned an ante-natal clinic yesterday and marched to Mindolo 
police station to protest over the lack of security at the clinic.
One woman gave birth on a road on Wednesday night and her baby later died.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting women, Margaret Mulenga said they 
decided to march to the police station to register their displeasure at the 
lack of security in the area.
Mrs Mulenga said the women wanted the Zambia Police Service to deploy armed 
police officers to guard the health institution so that nurses could resume 
their night shifts at the clinic.
"We are protesting because we had a very unfortunate incident last night 
when one pregnant woman gave birth on a road and the baby later died. This 
whole thing has come up because of lack of security at Kawama Clinic," Mrs 
Mulenga said.
Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation Kitwe District chairperson, Priscilla 
Chitambala, said the nurses had resolved to stop conducting night duties 
after being attacked by armed robbers.
Mrs Chitambala said the union was concerned at the insecurity in the area 
and would only allow its members to start night shifts when armed security 
personnel are deployed at the clinic.
She said apart from the lack of security, residents were also hostile 
towards nurses and other health personnel.
Kitwe District health director, Chikafuna Banda, also complained about the 
lack of security in the area and the hostile nature of the residents towards 
the health personnel.
Dr Banda said he was surprised that of all the areas that received computers 
and other items, only Kawama Clinic had recorded attacks by armed robbers.
He said Kawama Township was a problematic area and advised the residents to 
co-operate with the health personnel for 24-hour services to be resumed.
He said the primary role of the district health management board was to 
provide quality health care and that it has no money to pay armed security 
personnel to guard the clinic.
Copperbelt police commanding officer, Antoneil Mutentwa, said the police 
would work with the Kitwe district health management board to find a 
solution to the problem.
He said the problem at Kawama Clinic arose from the aggravated robbery in 
April in when thieves stole equipment and stripped naked the nurses on duty.
Mr Mutentwa said the whole township should be protected from criminal 
elements.

http://www.local10.com/politics/16513525/detail.html?rss=mia&psp=news

Protest Held Outside McCain Fundraiser
McCain Attends Fundraiser At St. Regis Fort Lauderdale Resort
POSTED: 4:07 pm EDT June 5, 2008
UPDATED: 6:36 pm EDT June 5, 2008
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- While presumptive Republican presidential candidate 
John McCain prepared to attend a fundraiser at the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale 
Resort, a small group of labor union members gathered outside to protest his 
proposed health care plan.
The Fort Lauderdale chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress 
of Industrial Organizations is calling on McCain to abandon his proposed 
health care plan, which they claim will saddle working families with an 
additional tax, give insurance company's more control of people's health 
care and do nothing to expand coverage to the uninsured.
AFL-CIO members are also challenging the Arizona senator's claim that his 
proposal represents a departure from President George W. Bush's 
administration.
"John McCain may say he stands for responsible reform, but his health care 
plan to enrich big insurance companies while continuing the Bush policy of 
ignoring the 47 million Americans who cannot afford health insurance says 
otherwise," Broward County Central Labor Council President Dan Reynolds said 
in a statement. "Florida working families need health care reform that will 
give them a leg up in the souring economy, not another break for 
corporations and lobbyists."
McCain is in South Florida as part of a three-day tour of the state. He held 
a fundraiser Wednesday night in St. Petersburg and spoke at a meeting of 
Florida newspaper editors Thursday in Orlando.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070155140100.htm

Death of woman sparks protest
Staff Reporter
PUDUCHERRY: The death of a 23-year-old woman due to snake bite on Monday 
sparked an immediate protest by her relatives and activists belonging to the 
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in front of the Assembly. Her relatives 
and activists belonging to the VCK staged the demonstration carrying the 
body to protest against the non-availability of anti-venom vaccine at the 
Public Health Centre (PHC) in Nettapakkam.
According to police, the deceased, Jyothi, a resident of Kariamanikkam in 
Nettapakkam, succumbed to the snake bite after being admitted to the Indira 
Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute here. She was 
brought to the GH after the PHC staff informed her relatives about 
non-availability of anti-venom vaccine.
The activists withdrew their protest after officials from the Revenue and 
Health Departments held talks with them.
When contacted, Director of Health and Family Welfare Dilip Kumar Baliga 
said the victim was brought to the hospital after "considerable delay." He 
said anti-venom vaccine had to be administered by a doctor or qualified 
nurse and PHCs did not have such a facility.
The Community Health Centres at Karikkalampakkam and Mannadipet have the 
facility to administer anti-venom vaccine.

http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/06/23/protesters-in-hospital-vigil/

Protesters in hospital vigil
Health campaigners lay floral tributes and lit candles in memory of loved 
ones at a protest rally outside Stafford Hospital.
Members of the "Cure the NHS" group braved the cold, wet, windy weather to 
gather for the event on Saturday.
Nearly 40 people stood just inside the gates of the hospital in Weston Road 
to wave banners in a bid to raise awareness of their campaign.
They also lit candles and lay flowers as they remembered relatives who have 
died in hospital.
The rally aimed to raise awareness of the group's drive to improve services 
at Stafford and Cannock hospitals.
Group founder Julie Bailey said: "The weather didn't help but it all went 
off well, and peacefully. Most of the people who came along are still 
grieving for relatives who have died in hospital.
"Despite the weather, we were there for about two hours.
"The idea of the protest was to let people know that they need to be keeping 
an eye on their relatives in hospital. My family did and we still lost my 
mum..
"Everyone thinks they are safe in a hospital but that isn't the case. People 
are dying needlessly."
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is under investigation by the 
Healthcare Commission over apparently high mortality rates. The findings 
will be published next spring.

http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=1274216

Patient's death sparks off protest at railway hospital
Monday, July 14, 2008

BURDWAN, India: The death of a woman patient, allegedly due to negligence by 
doctors, sparked off protest at Asansol Railway Hospital in Burdwan 
district, even as the railway authorities suspended two staff doctors and 
one nurse on charge of "mistreatment." Uma Bhadra, wife of railway employee 
Gopal Bhadra of Domahoni locality, admitted to the hospital with fever on 
Friday was not given proper treatment," her family members alleged.

After she expired yesterday, the family said repeated pleas to give her 
basic treatment, including oxygen, fell on deaf ears and they refused to 
take away the body unless those "responsible" for the death were punished.

As a mob gathered and ransacked the premises, a high level team from the 
railways reached the spot to persuaded the family to take away the body, 
police said.

Additional Divisional Railway Manager Girish Kumar later told reporters that 
two staff doctors and a nurse were placed under suspension. However, the 
family took away the body this afternoon following intervention of the 
railway officials.

Kumar said a committee has been formed to look into the death. One of the 
suspended doctors was identified as S S Haq and the nurse as Rita Kundu.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/07/17/nb-rally.html?ref=rss

300 rally to protest ER closure
Last Updated: Thursday, July 17, 2008 | 9:10 AM AT Comments13Recommend11
CBC News
More than 300 people from the Plaster Rock, N.B., area rallied on Wednesday 
night calling for Health Minister Mike Murphy to reopen the emergency room 
at the local hospital.
Ann Drost clutched an urn holding the remains of her mother Ginger DeWitt 
while standing outside a meeting where Murphy was discussing the future of 
the Tobique Valley Hospital with local officials in Plaster Rock.
DeWitt died on the night of July 9 while being transported by ambulance from 
her home near Plaster Rock to a hospital in Grand Falls.
After her death, physician Dr. Barry Wecker said he believed the woman could 
have been saved had the hospital not been ordered to shut down its emergency 
services.
The River Valley Hospital Corp. decided to close the 15-bed hospital's 
emergency department and in-patient services in June because not enough 
doctors were available.
Wecker is the only remaining emergency physician at the facility, where 
there previously had been four.
A 24-hour nursing care service remains available on a walk-in basis. Other 
services, including blood work, X-rays and physiotherapy, also continue to 
be provided at the facility.
But patients requiring emergency care must now travel about 40 kilometres to 
hospitals in Grand Falls or Perth-Andover.
That's not acceptable for citizens in the area, said Marcia Harding, who 
attended the rally.
"I have a son who's allergic to bees - highly allergic to bees," Harding 
said. "He has 15 minutes and he dies. We have no hospital - 40 minutes to 
Grand Falls, 40 minutes to Perth. What happens to my son?"
Murphy was in the meeting with the local planning committee for two hours 
before coming outside to address the crowd.
The minister said there are no plans to reopen the emergency room but that 
government officials will discuss the residents' concerns.
Some extra beds will also be added to the facility to provide temporary 
out-patient care, Murphy said.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/11/stories/2008071160791100.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

CPI (M) workers stage protest
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged demonstration across 
the State on Thursday, demanding resumption of vaccine production in the BCG 
Vaccine Laboratory, Guindy, the Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor, and 
CDL, Kasauli.
Addressing party workers at Saidapet, CPI (M) central committee member A.K. 
Padmanabhan said the Centre's decision to close down the units would lead to 
marginalisation of the public sector and allow the private sector, 
especially the multinational companies, a toehold in the manufacture. "They 
will reap huge profits and deny the poor access to lifesaving drugs." CPI(M) 
MP T.K. Rengarajan asked why the Pattali Makkal Katchi, which was concerned 
about Sri Lankan Tamils and Kachatheevu, remained silent on the closure of 
these institutes.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071058970300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Patient's relatives stage protest at hospital
Staff Reporter
Police officials visited the spot and pacified the warring groups

VISAKHAPATNAM: Tense situation prevailed at a private hospital near the King 
George Hospital on Wednesday when relatives of a patient staged a protest 
alleging that the patient was put on a ventilator though they knew for sure 
that he was going to die.
The victim Mutyala Rao, an autorickshaw driver, sustained severe head injury 
in a clash with some other drivers at Railway New Colony in the wee hours of 
Tuesday.
He was shifted to the KGH in EMRI ambulance. A doctor there suggested to the 
relatives to shift him to a private hospital as the patient needed 
ventilator support that was not available at the KGH.
He was put on a ventilator and was given some medicines.
The hospital management reportedly charged Rs.9,000 as ventilator charges 
and Rs.11,000 towards the cost of drugs.
After the relatives paid the amount they were told that there was no use 
treating the patient further as he would die as soon as the ventilator was 
removed.
Mutyala Rao's relatives were irked by the behaviour of the hospital staff.
The relatives alleged that the hospital management had 'pretended' to treat 
the victim only for money and staged a protest outside the hospital 
hindering the movement of traffic on the Main Road for sometime.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Konda Reddy, Circle Inspectors M. Srinivasa 
Rao (IV Town) and Bhima Rao (Two Town) visited the scene and pacified the 
warring groups.
Mr. Bhima Rao said that no case was registered as both the parties had 
agreed to settle the issue amicably.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/local/4831047

Kerin joins country health plan protest
ABC - July 28, 2008, 2:31 pm
The leader of the South Australian Opposition's country health task force, 
Rob Kerin, says he now has a clearer indication of the level of concern 
about the country health plan.
Mr Kerin attended a protest of more than 200 people in the Adelaide suburb 
of Norwood on Saturday.
The country health plan would see smaller hospitals downgraded and key 
services made available from four main hubs at Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Port 
Lincoln and Berri.
Mr Kerin says the strong turnout indicates city people are just as concerned 
about the plan as country residents.
"What worries me is that even if they throw the plan in the bin the agenda's 
become clear and what we need to do is keep a real watching brief that they 
don't remove services by cutting budgets or pulling back on equipment," he 
said.
"There's a whole range of ways that they can rationalise country health 
services and we need keep a real close eye that they just don't do it by 
attrition."
The Loxton and Districts Health Advisory Council says a public meeting on 
Thursday will allow locals to raise their concerns about the country health 
plan.
The council's presiding member, Ruth Firstbrook, says her main fear is 
potential budget cuts to the Loxton hospital if the Government's plan goes 
ahead.
Ms Firstbrook says while she met Health Minister John Hill last week, the 
issue is far from being resolved.
"Whilst our meeting with the Minister on Friday was very good, it was 
positive, he did answer our questions, I don't believe he should have been 
having to do that if this had been well thought out," she said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/local/4824225

Paramedics urged to end free rides protest
ABC - July 25, 2008, 2:27 pm
ABC © [Enlarge photo]
The Industrial Relations Commission has recommended that New South Wales 
ambulance officers stop giving patients free rides in their push for their 
chief to be sacked.
Paramedics have been refusing to charge patients for trips to hospital, 
after the State Government refused to meet their demands by 11:00am 
yesterday.
They have threatened to continue the industrial action until the Government 
hires 360 more ambulance officers and fires the Ambulance Service's 
management, including chief executive Greg Rochford.
Ambulance officers already have a pay claim before the Industrial Relations 
Commission but say this industrial action is unrelated.
The protest will cost the State Government $1 million a week.
The Health Service Union says problems with the Ambulance Service, including 
a culture of bullying, have grown since Mr Rochford took over as chief 
executive.
The union says ambulance officers want a uniformed officer to head the 
service, as is the case with police and the Fire Brigade.
It says Mr Rochford has failed to respond to 10 reviews and there are doubts 
the current parliamentary inquiry into the NSW Ambulance Service will have 
any impact.
The Ambulance Service says it is committed to working with the Health 
Services Union through the Industrial Relations Commission to achieve a good 
outcome.

http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=53491

Coverage, Access and Quality | Asian Immigrants in California Continue To 
Protest Proposed Medi-Cal Cuts
[Jul 24, 2008]
      Asian-American immigrants at a town hall discussion in California on 
Wednesday continued to protest proposed cuts to Medi-Cal, the state's 
Medicaid program, that would eliminate some health services to documented 
immigrants, the Oakland Tribune reports (Hill, Oakland Tribune, 7/23). Gov. 
Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal seeks to save about $87 million by 
cutting some health care services to roughly 91,000 immigrants each month. 
The proposal is part of a plan to reduce the state's $15 billion budget 
deficit.

Schwarzenegger's plan would affect preventive health care services for 
documented immigrants who have had green cards for fewer than five years. 
The changes would give documented immigrants the same Medi-Cal benefits as 
undocumented immigrants -- coverage for emergency care, prenatal care and 
nursing home coverage. In addition, the state would save about $42 million 
by requiring undocumented immigrants to obtain new Medi-Cal cards for 
emergency services each month, rather than annually.

The proposal also would eliminate monthly cash aid to about 10,300 
documented immigrants and dental benefits for three million indigent, 
disabled and elderly residents enrolled in Denti-Cal, a state program that 
covers diagnostic and preventive dental services (Kaiser Health Disparities 
Report, 6/24).

More than 500 people attended the town hall meeting held at the Oakland 
Asian Cultural Center auditorium to express opposition to the proposal, many 
speaking through translators. The attendees also signed petitions calling 
for a tax increase on corporations to address the budget deficit instead of 
cutting services to immigrants.

Sherry Hirota -- CEO of Asian Health Services, which sponsored the event --  
said, "With this budget, Asian Health Services alone would lose up to $1.5 
million and be forced to close some clinics and lay off staff." She added, 
"This is unfair to the Asian community. More than 75% of Asian and Pacific 
Islanders in California are foreign-born. These cuts aimed at new legal 
immigrants will disproportionately impact the Asian community" (Oakland 
Tribune, 7/23).

http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=95305

Bulgaria's GPs Prepare Nationwide Protests
20 July 2008, Sunday

The general practitioners in Bulgaria are to start nationwide protests in 
September if their demands for a higher budget are not granted. File photo 
by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)

The general practitioners in Bulgaria are to start nationwide protests in 
September if their demands for a higher budget are not granted, chair of the 
doctors' association Lyubomir Kirov announced.

Mr Kirov said that the decision for launching a strike was made during 
Friday's meeting of the National Council of the General Practitioners.

The GPs are to send Monday a letter to the healthcare commission within the 
parliament to notify them about their intentions and demands.

Concrete proposition for changes in the legislature are also to be included 
in the letter, doctors said and added that the budget for the GPs in 2009 
must be at least BGN 320 M.

Doctors assured that even if there is a nationwide protest they would still 
take care of their patients.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Paramedics_protest_outside_New_South_Wales_parliament

Paramedics protest outside New South Wales parliament
>From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!
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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Paramedics employed by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales in Australia 
marched on the New South Wales parliament today. They called for the 
Government to sack Ambulance Service of New South Wales CEO Greg Rochford, 
hire 300 additional ambulance officers and 60 patient transport officers. 
Paramedics gave the Government 48 hours to agree to the proposed staffing 
levels or face industrial action.
"We are currently at the same levels of staffing that we had in 2002 and 
these not withstanding, also there's been an increase in workload of 5 per 
cent per year every year since then," said Health Services Union general 
secretary Michael Williamson.
The union also called for chief executive Greg Roachford and other senior 
management to be sacked over what has been described as a culture of 
bullying.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00290.htm

Green MP joins school kids for tobacco protest
Wednesday, 20 August 2008, 9:38 am
Press Release: Green Party

20 August 2008
Green MP joins school kids for tobacco protest
The Green Party is supporting the call from Christchurch children for all 
tobacco retail displays to be removed from the sight of children and young 
people in dairies, supermarkets and petrol stations around New Zealand.
Green Party MP Sue Kedgley will speak at the "Tear Down the Wall' launch in 
Cathedral Square in Christchurch at noon today.
"It is inspiring to see a group of nine to 12 year olds take on a campaign 
like this, and I hope New Zealanders from all walks of life will support 
their campaign," Ms Kedgley says.

"The Green Party certainly does, and we want the Government to move quickly 
to require all tobacco retail displays removed from sight."
Ms Kedgley says more than 10,000 retail outlets around New Zealand use 
tobacco displays, and most are in a highly visible position behind the sales 
counter, right next to sweets and confectionary.
"This means every time children and young people enter a store, they are 
confronted by these displays of cigarettes.
"Research shows these displays can encourage young people to smoke, and can 
trigger impulse purchasing in people who have just quit smoking. They are a 
constant temptation to children and young people," Ms Kedgley says.
"We need to remember that cigarettes are not an ordinary commodity but a 
highly addictive and harmful substance. We should not be promoting 
cigarettes in a way that encourages and tempts young people to buy them or 
to start smoking.
"Smoking related illnesses cost between $300 million and $350 million every 
year, and the overall economic costs are much higher still," Ms Kedgley 
says.
ENDS

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081951710300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Contract para medical staff stage protest
Correspondent
VIZIANAGARAM: Contract para-medical staff affiliated to United Medical and 
Health Employees' Union on Monday observed token fast at the Collector's 
Office in protest against the government's indifference to their demand for 
regularisation of services.
Union State secretary G.V. Prasada Rao and district secretary S. Lakshmana 
Rao said that they would go on an indefinite fast from August 28 if the 
demand was not conceded by then. Mr. Prasada Rao said in a release that male 
health assistants, ANMs, lab technicians, pharmacists and staff nurses who 
were selected in the written test in 2001 and appointed on consolidated 
salary were not regularised till date.
Memorandum
Though ANMs working on contract were regularised elsewhere in the State, in 
Vizianagaram district 101 ANMs had not been given posting orders even after 
the counselling was conducted on September 7, 2007, he said. They submitted 
a memorandum to Joint Collector B. Ramaiah.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200808170090.html

Uganda: People Living With HIV in Protest March Over Murder

The Monitor (Kampala)
17 August 2008
Posted to the web 17 August 2008
Jane Nafula
Kampala
People living with HIV/Aids yesterday marched through Kampala's streets to 
protest the murder of a woman by a husband for allegedly infecting him with 
the virus that causes Aids.
The procession was joined by human rights activists and it started from 
Kampala Pentecostal Church, through Grand Imperial Hotel, Kimathi Avenue 
before the protestors gathered at City Hall to condemn the tragedy that took 
place in Rukungiri last Tuesday.

Mr Julius Tumwesigye ,30, hacked his wife, Glorius Kyarikunda, 25, to death 
after accusing her of infecting him with HIV.
Dr Lydia Mungherera, one of the people living with HIV said as the 
government pushes for criminalisation of deliberate transmission of 
HIV/Aids, it should also consider passing a law to protect people living 
with HIV/Aids.
Dr Mungherera said that many women living with HIV/Aids are dying at the 
brutal hands of their husbands and also suffer from all sorts of violence.
She said that in December last year a veteran soldier hacked his wife to 
death in Kinawataka, a Kampala suburb, after he found that they were in a 
discordant situation. A discordant couple is where one partner is negative 
while the other is positive.
In this case, the woman was negative while the man was HIV positive.
"The man cut off her head in the presence of the children. For how long are 
we going to suffer with no one to protect us from brutality," she said.
The Coordinator of People Living with HIV/Aids in Rukungiri district, Mr 
Dickens Rwabwogo said this is the second woman in Rukungiri to be murdered 
by a husband over HIV. Mr Rwabwogo said that in 2006 a woman from Buhunga 
village, who was in a discordant relationship was murdered by her husband 
for telling him to practice safe sex as she had been advised by the Aids 
experts.
The couple was advised to use condoms after it was found that the man was 
HIV positive while the woman was HIV negative.
He said many cases of that kind are happening in communities but they go 
unreported.
"This is horrible. How do you kill your wife before knowing your status? You 
could be the source of infection and you blame it on a woman who has gone 
for a test. Killing somebody doesn't mean that you are going to get rid of 
HIV," said the National Cordinator of people living with HIV/Aids, Mr Samuel 
James Kibanga.
Mr Kibanga said the murder of this woman indicates that ignorance about Aids 
is still widespread. Members threatened to sue government if people living 
with HIV are not protected from brutality.
Meanwhile, soldiers in the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) and their 
spouses have been called upon to combine efforts in the fight against 
HIV/Aids.
The call was made on Saturday by Deputy Mayor of Entebbe Municipality 
Peninah Kasaija who was chief guest on the occasion when PGB members marked 
HIV/Aids Awareness Day at Lunnyo Barracks.
The theme of the occasion was "HIV/AIDS Prevention is Another War to Fight; 
Together we share the challenge" with special focus on married couples to 
remain faithful to one another.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1523317/patients_protest_for_pain_therapy/index.html?source=r_health

Patients Protest for Pain Therapy
Posted on: Sunday, 17 August 2008, 12:00 CDT
By Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE -- The New Mexico Pain Support and Advocacy Group is planning to 
gather on the steps of the Roundhouse today to protest recent actions of the 
New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners regarding Albuquerque-based physician 
Joan Lewis, who practices pain management.
The group, which represents 408 patients throughout New Mexico who are 
patients of Lewis, wants the board to set aside an agreement the board 
recently signed with Lewis stating that she will stop practicing pain 
management.
Lewis was charged by the board in 2001 with "injudicious subscribing" of 
narcotics. She and her patients say her pain protocol is part of a 
pioneering program.
Members of the New Mexico Pain Support and Advocacy Group say Gov. Bill 
Richardson's recent reactions to their plight has not been sympathetic.
Bill MacLeod, of Socorro, said that when some 13 pain patients from the 
group went to see Richardson on Aug. 8 during open office hours in 
Albuquerque, the governor didn't seem to understand their problem.
"My wife was spokesperson and she was trying to explain how all of us were 
patients of Dr. Joan Lewis," MacLeod said.
The governor's spokesman Allan Oliver said Richardson met with some 75 
constituents during the afternoon session in question.
"He doesn't recall the specifics of the conversation with this group, but 
does recall meeting this group as well as receiving their letters," said 
Oliver. "Governor Richardson recognizes these individuals are in great and 
serious pain, and has directed his staff to work with the New Mexico Medical 
Board to look into the situation."
Effective Sept. 1, Lewis has been ordered by the board not to treat her 
patients' chronic pain conditions for more than 30 days. The order states 
that if Lewis breaches the conditions, her license to practice as a 
physician in New Mexico could be immediately suspended. Both Lewis and the 
New Mexico Pain Support and Advocacy Group have written the Medical Board 
asking that the order against her be set aside.
In her letter, Lewis wrote: "I feel I was unfairly and substantially coerced 
into agreeing to this order."
Lynn Hart, executive director of the New Mexico Medical Board, said the 
board has approved putting Lewis' case on the agenda at its next meeting, 
Aug. 21.
"The board is going to listen to Dr. Lewis and consider setting aside the 
settlement she signed, and we'll go from there," Hart said.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/18/stories/2008081857510400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Government doctors to protest today
HYDERABAD: The A.P. Government Doctors' Association has decided to launch a 
protest programme demanding implementation of the recommendations made by a 
high-power committee on their demands. A council meeting decided to wear 
black badges on Monday and go on mass casual leave on August 25. M. 
Neelakanteswara Rao, general secretary, said the committee had submitted its 
report more than one-and-half months ago, recommending a fitment allowance 
of Rs.4,000 to all government doctors. - Special Correspondent

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1529493/boston_medical_nurses_protest_low_pay_staffing/index.html?source=r_health

Boston Medical Nurses Protest Low Pay, Staffing
Posted on: Thursday, 21 August 2008, 21:00 CDT
By CHRISTINE McCONVILLE
Hundreds of frustrated nurses picketed outside Boston Medical Center 
yesterday, as union leaders criticized the hospital for stalling contract 
talks.
Nurses at the city's busiest hospital said they want competitive pay, 
respectful working conditions and appropriate staffing levels. They said 
working conditions at the nonprofit medical center have plummeted in recent 
years.
"It's a fearful environment and a hostile environment," said Joe- Ann 
Fergus, spokeswoman for the nurses' union. "And now, when there is a lot of 
competition for nurses, the medical center is losing valuable nursing 
talent."
Boston Medical Center has two separate nurses' groups. The group picketing 
yesterday work at the center's East Newton Street campus and are represented 
by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Their contract was set to expire 
six months ago but has been extended during contract talks.
Ellen Berlin, spokeswoman for Boston Medical Center, said in a prepared 
statement that "the hospital has already reached agreement with the MNA on 
many important and substantive issues and we are hopeful that we will soon 
reach agreement with the MNA nurses on the issues that remain unresolved."
The nurses' chief complaint is that the administrators at the medical center 
require nurses to float from one highly specialized area to another, often 
without adequate knowledge to properly care for patients.
The nurses are seeking a post-retirement health insurance program to bridge 
the time between retirement and government assistance and a larger pay 
raise.
Although Boston Medical Center has posted record profits of more than $74 
million in the last 18 months and recently awarded its chief executive, 
Elaine Ullian, a 46 percent pay increase, nurses at the East Newton Street 
campus say they are paid less than nurses at other Boston teaching 
hospitals.