Doctors in Oman suspend their strike

Muscat: Doctors at the government-run hospitals in Oman have suspended their strike after a meeting with the higher governmental authorities.

"The government wanted us to end the strike but we have decided to suspend it," Dr Munira Saif Al Rubkhi, who works at the Royal Hospital, told Gulf News.

The doctors went on an hour strike on Saturday and planned to increase the strike hours each day to demand reforms in the health sector.

Dr Munira, however, said that the doctors would continue wearing a badge to remind their demands to the authorities. The badge says: "We demand reforms in health sector, doctors will get their rights'.

Reforms promised

She said that during the meeting with higher government authorities, the doctors were promised that reforms would take place and their demands were being looked into.

The doctors have been pressing for working conditions on a par with international health standards and better wages among other things.

The doctors have decided to suspend their strike until June. "There's a medical conference in June. Meanwhile, if we feel that no action is being taken to meet our demands we may decide to go on strike," she said.