Doctors prepare for strike as negotiations with Icelandic government intensify

Negotiations are intensifying between medical professionals and the government as a midnight strike looms. If an agreement isn’t reached before the deadline, doctors will commence a strike, leading to disruptions in routine medical services.

Steinunn Þórðardóttir, chair of the Icelandic Medical Association, expressed determination to finalize negotiations today, highlighting continuous daily meetings over the past three weeks. The goal is to prevent these drastic measures from occurring.

Thórðardóttir reassured the public that essential services, including emergency care, will remain operational during the strike. Staffing will be managed similarly to weekends to ensure patient safety, although routine appointments and services may be affected. Specific details regarding how each healthcare center will respond to this situation will be provided on Monday morning if the strike goes ahead.

Additionally, a separate context of labor disputes arises as teachers are also set to strike. Teachers plan to convene with their representatives today, although recent negotiations have made little progress. A media ban was recently instituted on this issue. Strike actions have already been approved in 27 schools nationwide, with new strikes beginning tomorrow in three primary schools located in Garðabær, Reykjavík, and Reykjanesbær.

Overall, both the healthcare and education sectors are bracing for a series of significant disruptions if negotiations fail to yield timely resolutions in their respective disputes.