German medical assistants stage protest demanding better pay

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) – German health professionals held a rally in Berlin on Friday, demanding better pay and work conditions.

Hundreds of medical and dental assistants gathered at the city’s landmark Brandenburg Gate to protest Health Minister Karl Lauterbach’s reform plans and the government’s austerity measures.

Addressing the crowd, Stephanie Schreiber from the medical professionals association VMF heavily criticized the government for neglecting the problems of more than 300,000 medical and dental assistants.

“We are the pillars of healthcare system, and we made a significant contribution at the height of the coronavirus pandemic,” she said, adding that despite their repeated calls in recent years, their problems were entirely ignored by the government.

“We are calling on politicians to ensure secure financial resources, stop ignoring the problems and take the measures to save the ambulatory care from collapsing,” she said.

Medical professionals are saying that they are working at low wages despite their invaluable contributions, enormous stress, and health risks associated with their work.

Protesters carried banners criticizing Lauterbach, the government’s health reform plans, and austerity measures.