Bolivia’s Morales drops health reform

After weeks of violent protests and even a hunger strike among health workers, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales says he is suspending a controversial medical reform plan.

The aim was to increase the working day from six to eight hours in state hospitals.

But protesters insist the proposal – which does not include any extra pay for the extra hours – should be scrapped altogether rather than just suspended.

They took to the streets again last night in a rally that ended in clashes with police.

Morales says poorer Bolivians are not getting the healthcare they need under the current system but faced with such a wave of opposition he has had to back down.

He is now calling a general health care summit in July.

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