Doctors launch week of protests against health minister

The incident came at the start of a week of protest actions against the policy of health minister David Rath. Doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are taking part say that the planned events will be largely symbolic and will not restrict care or in any way damage patients. The week-long protests against the minister's reforms will involve demonstrations in the three largest cities Prague, Brno and Ostrava, the distribution of leaflets and debates with the public. The protesters say that the minister's reforms are harming both medical staff and patients and have worsened the quality of health care afforded in many areas.