Health sector lifts pressure measures after government completes all staff payments

Health sector workers in Bolivia have called off their protests after the government confirmed full payment of all owed salaries. The resolution brings an end to a period of industrial action that had disrupted outpatient services in public hospitals, particularly in the Santa Cruz department.

Wilfredo Anzóategui, president of the Colegio Médico de Bolivia, announced the suspension of pressure measures following confirmation that all outstanding wages had been settled. "Now 100% has been fulfilled, therefore the measures adopted by the health sector... are suspended," Anzóategui stated, indicating that normal activities would resume on Monday.

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Now 100% has been fulfilled, therefore the measures adopted by the health sector, by the health professionals, are suspended.

The salary arrears had been a primary driver for the strike, significantly impacting healthcare access. In Santa Cruz, the situation at the Hospital de Niños Dr. Mario Ortiz Suárez highlighted ongoing issues, with a substantial number of employees reporting delayed payments. Susy Herbas, secretary general of Fesirmes, specified that staff with certain funding items (GAD) were fully paid, but a significant portion of those with national treasury (TGN) items at the children's hospital remained unpaid.

Despite the national resolution, the situation at the Children's Hospital indicates that localized payment delays persist for some personnel, depending on their specific funding source. This suggests that while the immediate crisis has been averted, underlying financial management issues may still affect certain health facilities.

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The total personnel with GAD items, which is 100%, as well as 40% or 50% of the workers with TGN items at the children's hospital, have not been paid.