the assurance that was given by the minister of Health. The minister reportedly gave his assurance that a representative from the union would be given a seat on the board that oversees the operations of the Regionale Gezondheidsdienst (RGD). “We assume that there is no reason for us to think that the minister will not keep his word,” said Bobby Ramautar, chairman of the VRA. The VRA issued a strike to protest against the fact that the union had no representative on the board. The physicians made it clear that it is essential for them to have a say so that the interests of the medical professionals as well as the patients could be served. As a result of the strike which started on Wednesday patients could not go to the RGD clinics in the morning. Several workers of the RGD made it clear on Thursday morning that only children and emergency cases would receive medical treatment. All other appointments were cancelled. The VRA made it clear that the patients come first but that it will also rely on to the agreements that were reached with the minister.