Tens of thousands marched October 23 in the streets of San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital, demanding the government bar the dismantling of the state-run health-care system. The government initially backed away from privatization plans in the face of nationwide marches, road blocks and work stoppages. An ongoing strike by medical personnel against the Salvadoran Social Security Institute and state hospitals, which began September 19, has drawn support from other unions, peasant organizations, and students. The strikers are demanding legislative guarantees against any privatization measures and improvements in the health care system. The government has so far refused to negotiate. Facing parallel attacks on their living standards and on public health, thousands of health-care workers in Guatemala and Nicaragua went into the streets November 7 demanding pay raises.
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