Table 1 Summary of features of the main physician strikes in Israel from1976-2000

1976

58 days [7]

• Closure of hospital outpatient clinics

• On-call payments to physicians

• 2.5% Salary increase

• Revision of salary supplements

• Only urgent surgical procedures

• Time off after being on-duty

• Revision of on-duty and on-call payments

• No patient discharges

• Full implementation of the previous physician agreement

• A change in the promotion system and shortening of the promotion period

• A study fund for physicians

• Opposition to moves to reduce physician numbers

1983

117 Days [7]

• 90% of doctors on strike [8]

• Additional physician posts

• A payment mechanism for working overtime [7]

• Doubling of salaries

• Most hospitals operated on a “weekend basis” over a 4 month period [6]

• Restriction both of working hours and consecutive hours worked [7]

• Supplemental payment to doctors for hospital work [7]

• Supplemental payment to interns: 10% of a doctors salary [7]

• Ended with a hunger strike and mass hospital exodus [6]

• ‘Many believe that the strike also damaged public trust in the physicians and their representatives’. ([6] p66)

1994

I day [7]

• 24 hour ‘warming strike’ by 12,000 doctors including those from public sector hospitals, health centres and community health fund clinics [9]

• Increased doctors salaries [7]

• New promotion grades

• Increased salary supplements

• Determining a payment rate for on-calls

• Increased numbers of doctors making it difficult to find work [9]

• Days off after on calls and study leave

• A new system for further medical studies

• Many elective operations and outpatient appointments were cancelled [9]

• A professional advancement mechanism

• Recognition of the physician as a top specialist [7]

• Only emergency services were operating [9]

2000

217 days [7]

• ‘General strikes, disruptions and various sanctions’. [7]

• Salary improvement [6, 7]

• A 13.2% salary increase for doctors [7]

• A remuneration mechanism for further study and absences [7]

• Limitation on consecutive hours that interns and residents work

• Limits on consecutive hours worked [6]

• Increase in the fixed salary portion of earnings from 35% to 50% [7]

• The right to private practice in public hospitals [6]

• Extension of the physician pension coverage [7]

• Study leave entitlement [7]

• Recognition of out-of hours rotations and on-call duty as part of base pay calculations [6]

• Establishment of a public commission to examine the public health system and physicians’ status [6, 7]

• Higher funding and strengthening of the public health system [6]

• Agreement by the IMA not to strike for a decade [6]

• Both sides agreed to arbitration for unresolved issues [6]