Lanchkhuti Hospital Personnel Stopped Strike with the Hope of Future

Nino Mshvidobadze

Problems appeared in Lanchkhuti district hospital after Aditi Ltd entered there. Aditi took responsibility to increase salaries of medical personnel and rehabilitate the building.

In the beginning of 2012 experienced surgeon Malkhaz Mirtskhulava left district hospital because of small salary. The same happened with a young surgeon Omar Kharatidze; according to our information he left hospital for the same reason.

Short time ago, hospital medical personnel went on strike because of unpaid salaries of four months. Head of the department for the coordination of emergency situation and regime at the Ministry of Labor, Healthcare and Social Protection Zurab Utiashvili met strikers. Humanrights.ge interviewed him regarding the situation.

-What did you decide after meeting with the personnel?

-Medical personnel have complaints against operator company. They request to immediately transfer their two-month salaries. According to my information, their one-month salary was transferred but there is delay in the transfer of the second month’s salary. I promised the personnel to find out the situation with the company. However, speaking about this problem was not the only reason of my visit here. I informed medical personnel about future plans of the state for 2013.We spoke about general insurance too.

-Did you speak about construction of a new hospital?

-It is obligation of the operator company. They have to build a new building and rehabilitate old one. Contract term has not expired yet. Unless the company implements its duties on time, the state will necessarily study the case and will make decisions under the law that will be relevant for Lanchkhuti district.

-After meeting with you, the medical personnel stopped strike. What do you think, did your meeting have positive result?

-Yes, it is important that they stopped protest. We have good plans both for medical personnel and patients. Everything positive ends up with positive results. They absolutely understood what I spoke about and stopped protest.

Doctors and nurses at Lanchkhuti hospital will serve their patients as they usually did but unless Aditi pays their salaries completely, they will go on strike again.