Doctors Strike in Poti – SOS! Save Us from Aldagi

Inga Gvasalia, Poti

Doctors in Poti hospital have been on strike for several days, protesting unbearable working conditions and low salaries created by My Family Clinic and the insurance company Aldagi BCI. On October 31, 2012 their labor contracts expired. Three doctors were unexpectedly notified about their dismissal. The doctors claim they were fired because of political reasons though hospital administration denies their allegation.

The former head of Intensive Therapy Clinic, an Anesthesiologist-Reanimatologist, Goderdzi Sarjveladze said the problems began after the hospital was initially assigned to Block Georgia and then to Aldagi BCI. “Initially they planned to construct a hospital with new equipment for 2008. Instead they renovated all four stories and finally everything was located in one floor; there are no isolated divisions; every division functions on one floor; there is no new equipment. All of western Georgia – Adjara, Guria, Samegrelo – is governed by one company and there is no alternative for doctors and hospitals to have better conditions. The medical service prices have increased three times for patients but doctors’ salaries have decreased four times. The hospital administration has one reply to our complaints: “Write a resignation letter and leave the job.” They started persecuting those employees who complained about salaries before elections but during the election period they started to persecute us on political grounds.”

The hospital doctors requested for Poti majoritarian MP Eka Beselia to meet with them and discuss their problems. However, this became the reason for their being fired at the hospital.

Cardiologist Gia Mikadze, who was head of cardiologic division, speaks about the illegal dismissal of personnel: “Doctors were fired because of expired labor contracts. So, we decided to go on strike. The hospital director did not acknowledge us; he met us only after Ms. Eka Beselia arrived here and he claimed he was not guilty in the situation. However, all dismissal decrees were signed by him.”

Doctor-Ophthalmologist Lia Tsomaia, was notified on October 31 that hospital administration was not going to extend her labor contract. She said her dismissal is connected with her open support of the Georgian Dream party. “A week ago I gave an interview to TV9. Then we learned hospital director Goga Shedania gave our names to Aldagi BCI. On Tuesday we met MP Eka Beselia and introduced her to our problems. On the third day I was sacked from job. What were they displeased with? My knowledge, professionalism or working skills?! I believe my dismissal is politically motivated persecution. I used to publicly declare the complaints of my colleagues. Today they said my labor contract expired. Whilst none of the hospital employees have signed labor contracts, mine stopped. Our strike has warning character and it will continue until our requests are satisfied.”

It was almost impossible to speak about the issue with the hospital administration. After a stubborn demand of humanrights.ge operation director of Samegrelo region, My Family Clinic Avtanidl Rominadze told us: “Three employees were dismissed based on expired labor contracts. Nobody was fired on political grounds.”

Chairwoman of the Committee of Social Issues at Poti City Council Darejan Tskhvitaria from the National Movement, was making loud statements in the foyer of the hospital. She openly supported the doctors and strictly criticized Shedania. Allegedly, Darejan Tskhvitaria “did not know” about the illegality in hospital and is currently astonished. “”Shedania has never supported the National Movement and he always kept the hospital entrance locked; he has never attended our meetings. Since it is within the competence of my committee I decided to come here and declare my position,” Tskhvitaria said.

Apparently, Darejan Tskhvitaria has not heard yet that in Poti Shedania was considered to be a protégé of the National Movement and an ally of Akhalaias. People say he did not bother to attend Tskhvitaria’s meetings and consider fair requests of doctors because of the aforementioned support.

The doctors petitioned to the Parliament of Georgia: “SOS! Save Us from Aldagi.”