UK doctors go on strike in pension row

The members of the 104,000-strong British Medical Association (BMA) voted by a 79 percent majority to go on strike back in May after the government tabled proposal that cut their £1 million pension pots, require them to work until 68 before retirement and pay more in annual pension contribution to earn pensions worth £68,000 a year.

The BMA says they are targeting the government rather than the public as officials are changing arrangements made only four years ago and forcing doctors to pay more in pension contributions compared to other high earners in the public sector.

However, British Prime Minister David Cameron has condemned the strike action arguing that the GPs will be getting “the sort of pensions that many people … can only dram of” even after the government’s controversial changes.

The BMA has announced the GPs will only reject patients who are not in urgent need of care while hospitals will cancel all non-urgent surgeries.

This comes as the issue has raised controversy with the Medical Defense Union, which provides legal advice to doctors, warning them that they could be forced to present good reasons for turning patients away in case of a complaint.

AMR/JR/HE

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes