Bolivia: Doctors' strike launches interdepartmental highway blockade Dec. 27-28 /update 5

Event

Bolivian doctors continued their strike on Wednesday, December 27, protesting in major cities, including La Paz, and erecting blockades on major highways in several departments. The areas most acutely affected by the doctors' strike and associated protests and blockades on Wednesday were Puerto Ibáñez and Puerto Pailas (Santa Cruz department), and along the adjacent Santa Cruz-Beni interdepartmental highway. Protesting doctors reportedly blockaded the highway at Puerto Pailas throughout Wednesday; some 100 doctors resumed the blockade at 10:00 (local time) on Thursday, December 28. Subsequent clashes between police and protesters left several people injured, and at least eight protesters were arrested.

All medical services, except emergency medical services, remain suspended in many hospitals throughout the country. Additional protests, heightened security measures, and consequent traffic disruptions are expected in Bolivia and along major thoroughfares in the coming days. Continued medical service disruptions are also expected in the coming weeks.

Context

Negotiations between the government and the doctors - represented by the Colegio Médico de Bolivia - continue to stall. The government has threatened to fire the striking doctors, and have brought in Cuban doctors to address the personnel shortages. Doctors launched the strike to protest the creation of the Supervision and Control Authority within the national health system and an existing malpractice law. The Colegio Médico de Bolivia also reportedly opposes the regulation of doctors' professional practices in the private sector.

The strike, which has had a significant impact on available health services over the past month and has affected tens of thousands of people, has intensified and begun to affect private health facilities as well as public ones in recent days. Street protests have also been held throughout the country, including in La Paz, Oruro, and Cochabamba.

Additional road blockades were erected by doctors in La Paz and El Alto on December 26.

Advice

Individuals in Bolivia are advised to confirm doctor's appointments and anticipate longer waiting times in medical facilities. All those present in the country are also advised to avoid all related demonstrations due to the potential for violence, to never attempt to cross a roadblock, and to adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.