The interns’ unions are calling for an indefinite strike to protest against the reform of the third cycle of medical studies.
The interns go on strike. The main union of medical interns calls for a national strike movement on Tuesday to protest against the reform of the third cycle of medical studies, supposed to apply next November. These aspiring physicians are notably calling for an extension of the training time for certain specialties within the framework of this reform.
The National Intersyndicat des Interns (Isni) thus denounces “a botched reform”; he filed an unlimited strike notice from April 18 and was joined by Synmad, a union of hepato-gastroenterologists.
Support for “seniors”
At the hospital, striking interns and “seniors” have “organized themselves” to guarantee continuity of care, Isni told AFP. The interns have the support of the first union of liberal doctors, the CSMF and the presidents of the CNU (National University Council) and colleges of cardiology, nephrology and hepato-gastroenterology.
For several years, the Ministries of Health and Higher Education have been working on the reform of the third cycle of medical studies, that is to say of the internship, which begins at the end of the sixth year and lasts from three to three years. five years depending on the specialty, in consultation with the entire sector.
Problem: this long-awaited reform, which will only apply to future interns, maintains a four-year course in cardiology, nephrology and hepato-gastroenterology, while Isni and its supporters claim five.
Guarantees
However, the reform could even lead to a reduction in training time, according to Isni. It provides for the establishment of a “postgraduate assistant status” in the fourth year, while assistant positions are currently reserved for practitioners who have completed their internship, explains the union.
For its part, the Ministry of Health ensures that the duration of training is not reduced and will now be “reviewed annually”. But any “lengthening requires that we ensure training capabilities,” he warns.
Interns are invited to meet at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Higher Education in Paris to challenge the decree which must be presented to the National Council for Higher Education and Research (Cneser). In the provinces, gatherings are also scheduled in the morning in the halls of the CHUs.
Isni is also asking for guarantees concerning the remuneration or the number of internship sites available to apprentice doctors.
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