By Birgit Bürkner and Sara Orlos Fernandes
They want to treat their patients well, but are increasingly reaching their limits themselves. Berlin and Brandenburg clinic doctors drew attention to their situation on Tuesday with a warning strike.
Several hundred doctors followed the call of the Marburger Bund trade union. Around 150 doctors gathered in front of the Helios Clinic Berlin-Buch for a rally. Protest signs read, for example, “Half dead in white”, “State of affairs: Dark circles under the eyes”, “Doctors at the limit, patients in danger” and “Save until no doctor comes”.
“We want better working conditions and fewer services. Sometimes we work five weekends in a row or have up to nine times 24-hour shifts per month,” complained internist Dino Strajnic (35).
Internist Dino Strajnic (35): “We want better working conditions and fewer services” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Assistant doctor Abris Jeney (29) said: “You often work overtime and can’t do much with your free time in everyday life.”
And anesthetist Stefanie Keil (35) added: “We are not paid fairly for the work we do. The physical commitment and mental commitment that we have is not reflected in the wages at all.”
The anesthesiologists Luise Karkuschke (29) and Stefanie Keil (35) on the right: “We require duty rosters that are six to eight weeks in advance” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Specialist Josefin Kolbe (37) emphasized: “We urgently need more staff to be able to guarantee adequate training and patient care.”
The union is demanding inflation compensation and an additional salary increase of 2.5 percent for doctors in municipal clinics and the Helios Group. In addition, timely duty scheduling and work on only two weekends a month.
Specialist Josefin Kolbe (37): “We are fighting for better care and better conditions. At the moment we are not getting paid for some of our overtime” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Doctors from the Ernst von Bergmann Clinic in Potsdam and the University Clinic in Brandenburg/Havel also stopped working. Interventions that could be planned had to be postponed.
In addition, Berlin teachers went on warning strike on Tuesday. For months they have been demanding smaller classes and negotiations about a collective agreement.