Strike premature death warning

Ongoing strike action by members of the Icelandic Association of Academics (BHM) working at hospitals around the country may lead to more premature deaths, according to Hjartaheill, the Icelandic Association of Heart Patients.

Longer waiting lists

“Heart and artery disease do not go on strike,” warns Sveinn Guðmunds­son, Deputy Director of Hjartaheill, one of several patient associations to express the fears and concerns of the members regarding the strike.

“Research shows that 13-14% of patients die prematurely while on waiting lists for cardiac catheterisation (‘heart cath’) operations,” explains Guðmunds­son. “Industrial action makes waiting lists longer and statistics show that more people die prematurely while waiting for their operation.”

BHM members have been on strike since for almost a month in a dispute with the State of wages.