Thousands of Romanian protesters have been mobilised in the all country against the privatisation of their health service and the forced resignation of Raed Arafat, founder of the emergency service, who had the courage to denounce publicly the reform proposed by the centre-right government.

 

Thanks to those mobilisations, the initial plan has been withdrawn and Raed Arafat is back in his position. But the access to emergency treatment, and generally, access to quality treatments for all, remains threatened because a new text is in preparation.

 

This reform is scandalous and endangers health of Romanian citizens who are living with many more difficulties since the austerity plans were implemented in 2010 as a compensation of 20 billion Euro “aid” by the IMF and EU. The vast majority of Romanian people will be obliged to give up treatments if this reform is adopted.

 

Everywhere in Europe, health services are attacked, damaged and privatised by ultraliberal governments who literally implement the policies of destruction of public services which are promoted by the EU and the IMF. It is the heart of the European social model which is jeopardised by these attacks.

 

For the EL, those political choices are unworthy and irresponsible. Tools exist, in Europe, to treat everyone as needed. The solution is to attack the power of banks and financial markets to reshape money in the direction of social development. This is the rationale the EL gives to its initiative that aspires to collect 1 million signatures for the creation of a solidarity and social development fund.

 

Party of European Left

 

20 January 2012

 

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