Health sector unions held a rally outside the health ministry on Wednesday, followed by a march to Parliament in order to protest against an omnibus bill for health sector reforms that is to be voted on by Greek MPs on Wednesday night.

Participating in the rally were the Hellenic Medical Association, the Federation of Hospital Doctors Unions of Greece, the Athens-Piraeus Hospital Doctors Union, the nationwide IKA-ETAM health staff union federation and the nationwide pharmacists association. They were also joined by striking public transport workers and teachers.

A delegation of doctors presented a resolution outlining their objections to Parliament, after which striking doctors will return to the health ministry on Wednesday afternoon for a general meeting to decide their next course of action. Their representatives said that doctors were determined to continue mobilising even after the bill is passed.

Hospital doctors said they will not cut short a strike that will include Thursday, while IKA doctors are continuing strike action until Friday. (ANA-MPA)

According to government regional health authorities, however, nationwide participation in the strike by doctors in hospitals and health centres was just 2.4 percent, while in Attica it was just 2.2 percent.

Meanwhile, a draft bill on structural changes in the health care system was ratified by a majority, in principle, on Wednesday evening. The main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, the Communist Party (KKE), the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) voted against.

Debate on draft law at the plenum will continue on its articles and is expected to be concluded after midnight, in the early morning hours of Thursday.