"You cannot claim that this sector is discriminated against in the public sector, even though they work hard and their work is important.
"I am very worried about private medicine. Private medicine is medical service for whoever pays the most and for people who can pay. We have a very good public health system. This service should be equal as much as possible. Private medicine will create a differential health system that discriminates between the rich and the poor," Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz told "Globes" today.
Steinitz criticized the doctors, saying, "I am worried by the doctors' strike because you cannot claim that this sector is discriminated against in the public sector, even though they work hard and their work is important. We also hear that a great many doctors' income is not just from salaries, but also private work at companies, clinics, and private hospitals, and reaches up to NIS 100,000 a month or more."
Steinitz added that doctors' pay "does not justify a harsh strike at the expense of patients."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 6, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011