1.
GV HOSPITAL
0.03

2.
SCU HOSPITAL SIGN
0.07

3.
GV ST JOSEPH INSTITUTE
0.10

4.
SCU PLAQUE SURGICAL INSTITUTE OF ST. JOSEPH
0.14

5.
GV SIGN "CONSULTATIONS"
0.15

6.
GV CLOSED DOORS
0.18

7.
GV STRIKE POSTER
0.22

8.
GV MORE CLOSED DOORS
0.24

9.
GV DESERTED HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM
0.29

10.
GV PAN. HOSPITAL DESERTED
0.33

11.
GV PAN PEOPLE ANSWER TELEPHONE (4 SHOTS)
0.52

12.
GV 'CLINIQUE' SIGN
0.54

13.
GV INT. PRESS CONFERENCE
0.58

14.
SCU DR HENRARD TALKS TO PRESS
1.03

15.
SV & GV PRESS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS)
1.09



Initials GHB/VS/MGT/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BELGIUM'S TWO RIVAL MEDICAL FEDERATIONS - ONE ORGANISING A STRIKE AND THE OTHER AGAINST IT A TODAY (THURSDAY) DISAGREED ABOUT HOW MANY DOCTORS HAD ACTUALLY STOPPED WORK.

ONE ORGANISATION ORDERED THE DOCTORS TO STRIKE FOR TWO DAYS FROM MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT (WEDNESDAY) TO PROTEST AGAINST THE TRIALS OF 37 DOCTORS FOR ALLEGEDLY CHARGING ILLEGAL HIGH FEES, AND AGAINST NEW CUTS IN FEES PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE STRIKERS' ORGANISATION CLAIMED A TOTAL, OR NEAR TOTAL, WALK-OUT IN PARTS OF BRUSSELS AND THE PROVINCES. IT WAS BELGIUM'S SECOND DOCTORS' STRIKE SINCE APRIL 1964.

BUT LEADERS OF THE RIVAL MEDICAL FEDERATION, WHICH OPPOSED THE STRIKE, SAID THE SITUATION WAS NORMAL WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.

THE HEALTH MINISTRY SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL IN BRUSSELS, AND OTHER LARGE CENTRES SUCH AS ANTWERP, GHENT, CHARLEOI AND MONS. THE MINISTRY SAID THAT IN LIEGE DOCTORS DID NOT OPEN THEIR SURGERIES, BUT REPLIED TO TELEPHONE CALLS FROM PATIENTS AND TREATED THEM AT HOME IN URGENT CASES.

BEFORE THE STRIKE WAS CALLED, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION SUPPORTING THE STRIKE, DR GEORGES HENRARD, CLAIMED THAT 85 PER CENT OF THE COUNTRY'S DOCTORS WOULD OBEY THE CALL. BUT HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER, DR ANDRE WYNEN, HEAD OF THE RIVAL FEDERATION, BRANDED THE STRIKE AS " COMIC OPERA" AND SAID MEDICAL PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED BY NEGOTIATION.