Mexico: Medical interns strike over security concerns

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Medical interns went on strike Thursday in Mexico to protests their working conditions and a reduction in scholarships, according to the Mexico Daily News.

The interns gathered in Mexico city claiming that the government is planning to reduce the number of scholarships awarded to interns and their stipends.

Protesters chanting: "There is no austerity in health" demanded security guarantees for interns posted in remote areas and a national plan to improve conditions in rural health centers.

The Health Ministry denied the allegations saying they have not reduced the number of scholarships.

"The Secretariat of Health has a sufficient budget to pay 52,250 scholarships in 2019, an amount that is the same as ... in 2018 and 2017," the statement said.

"No student that is fulfilling their social service will be left unprotected as there will be no reduction or suspension of the resource allocated to that end," it added, referring to the concerns of protesters.