Signs held aloft by health workers on pickets featured slogans lamenting the effects of the security crisis on health workers. The union leader said that health workers from “almost 100 percent” of hospitals in the capital had participated in the strike and that emergency services throughout the City had continued to operate as normal. Employees say they face constant threats of harassment while at work Friday, July 22, 2016 Workers at BA City hospitals go on strike over lack of securityMedical staff from over 30 hospitals in Buenos Aires City staged a 24-hour strike yesterday in protest at the lack of action over ongoing security issues at hospitals throughout the Argentine capital, with many medical employees saying they face the consistent threat of harassment and insufficient security while at work. Speaking during a radio interview, one striking doctor —Jorge Gilardi — said that the situation was so serious that it impeded safe practice at hospitals and was putting medical staff at severe risk along with their patients. Gilardi was one of many health service union leaders to call for the reintroduction of police officers in hospitals to guarantee staff and patient safety, arguing that their replacement with private security firm employees under former BA City mayor and President Mauricio Macri in 2011 had failed hospitals, health workers and patients alike.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald July 22, 2016 03:20 UTC