Doctors at Univasf will go on strike for more resources.

Pernambuco 247 - Doctors at the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley (Univasf), in Petrolina, 700 kilometers from Recife, announced that they will go on strike indefinitely starting next Friday (24). The strike will take place due to delays in the transfer of federal funds to the unit, affecting the quality of care at the hospital and causing delays in the payment of professionals' salaries. A new assembly will be held on the 28th to evaluate the movement. According to Univasf, the amount not transferred by the Federal Government is approximately R$ 3 million.

According to the 1st Vice-President of the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), Carlos Vital, the situation in the municipality in the Sertão region of Pernambuco reflects the conditions faced by the Unified Health System (SUS). “Petrolina is further proof that, in addition to the lack of resources for healthcare, the administration fails to properly manage the little that is available,” Vital criticized to Jamildo's Blog. The vice-president is monitoring the situation through the Regional Council of Medicine of Pernambuco (Cremepe).

“Medical entities have denounced these errors in the implementation of policies, projects, and programs in the health sector,” he continued. “We cannot allow these situations to harm the professionals who provide these services and the population, which is already so penalized,” declared Vital.

The category also complains about the lack of commitment from the Federal Government to the population that depends on the hospital's services. With the strike, consultations, exams, and other elective procedures will be suspended. However, the so-called "red zone" and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital will continue to function.

According to a document prepared by Univasf, the amount not transferred by the Federal Government is approximately R$ 3 million and would have been used to make up the primary surplus of 2013.