Cyprus doctors announce a 48-hour strike

Doctors at state hospitals in the Republic of Cyprus will conduct a 48-hour strike next week. The medical professionals have been unable to reach an agreement with the state healthcare organization (Okypy).

The strike will take place on July 2nd and 3rd. Medical union leaders are considering more stringent measures, such as closing emergency departments.

According to Sotiris Kumas, head of the "Pasyki" union, this is the first 48-hour doctors' strike in the last 20 years.

The union leader also noted that despite disagreements over the closure of emergency departments, there are other service providers in the country offering services outside state hospitals where people can turn in case of need.

On Tuesday, Okypy sent proposals to both unions, which were deemed unsatisfactory. It is expected that the medical unions will formally announce their measures in a joint statement later.

Recall that earlier, doctors at state hospitals in the Republic of Cyprus planned a 24-hour strike on June 20th. The statement said that if doctors are not compensated for overtime, protest actions will escalate on July 2nd and 3rd.