Around 80 people gathered in Brussels on Monday morning near the European institutions to protest on World Health Day.
Organised by the National Central Employees (CNE), the demonstrators performed a skit to condemn the commercialisation of healthcare, which they believe undermines public services and the non-profit sector.
"The state gives plenty of money to the private sector but leaves only crumbs for public services," claimed Sébastien Robeet, CNE’s national non-profit secretary.
He also criticised the dire working conditions for healthcare workers in both public and private sectors and the increasing difficulty of accessing quality care.
Delegates from various European countries, including the Netherlands, Nordic countries, Italy, and France, then spoke. They all highlighted the same issues: the privatisation of health, the shortage of workers in the socio-health sector, and the deterioration of working conditions in healthcare.
The protest ended shortly before noon, but the day’s mobilisation continued.
A conference on the shortage of healthcare personnel was scheduled at the European Parliament at 14:00, followed by an exhibition on healthcare staff’s overtime work at 18:00, organised by European Public Service Unions (EPSU) at their offices.
Non-profit sector staff will also voice their concerns in the streets of Brussels on Thursday, 22 May.
