The shortening of the shifts of interns in hospitals is underway: from 26 hours to 18 hours

The shortening of the shifts of interns in hospitals is underway: On Tuesday evening, the Minister of Finance, Avgidor Lieberman, the Minister of Health, Nitzan Horowitz, and the Minister of the Economy, Orna Barbibai, agreed on an initial outline for shortening the shifts from 26 hours to 18 hours (16 plus 2). At this stage only for hospitals in the periphery (10 total) - and excluding professions of surgery.
The interns - who do not accept the outline - plan to intensify the struggle and carry out a mass resignation from the hospitals today. "We are continuing our struggle. We will resign, we have nothing to lose," said sources in the organization that specializes in "prescription."
The outline is expected to take effect only in 2022, for a period of 5 years during which its implementation will be examined. The wording of the final agreement is presented at the moment by the ministers, with a number of questions remaining open - including whether the interns' wages will be harmed against the background of reduced working hours, and whether the outline will not harm training and medical service. It is also unclear how the outline can be implemented given a severe shortage of physicians.
"The Medical Association will negotiate with the Ministries of Economy, Health and Finance and will insist that these things be anchored in clear and binding collective agreements, and that the necessary resources be allocated. We now have half a year to work together on the details, and solve the problems that still remain open, with an emphasis on standards, salaries and medical training, and of course the number of shifts does not exceed 6 per month. We will in no way allow the hospitals to be left with new guidelines, without new budgets and standards needed accordingly, "said Prof. Zion Hagai, chairman of the Medical Association.
During the presentation of the outline, Minister Barbibai said that "there is a festive feeling that the 26-hour permit for interns will be discontinued. This is unlikely, certainly for those responsible for saving lives. However, very significant preparation is required in both standardization and staffing. Relevant, when starting in March 2022 the shortening will start to 10 hours and no more than 6 shifts. We are already excluding the surgery. This is a gradual decline, in 2023 there will be a departure station and we will check how we have progressed. "The beginning of the process. Working hours are part of the story, there are also matters of terms of employment."
Health Minister Horowitz said that "after years of talking, we moved on to action. The periphery first in 2002, and from there - within a few years - to all interns across the country. This is a serious and professional outline. "This is what makes the move possible. New doctors must be added to the system."