Hunger strike at Sanok hospital grows to 15 people; protesters await director's resignation

A hunger strike at the hospital in Sanok (Podkarpackie Voivodeship) began on Thursday at 16:30 and is continuing. On Saturday morning 15 hospital employees were taking part. According to Małgorzata Sawicka, chair of the nurses' and midwives' union, the number may grow on Sunday: some employees are coming off the night shift and will join later.

The protesters drink water, juices and sweetened coffee. They sleep on mattresses in the hospital but do not stop working. Grzegorz Pastyła, chair of the independent union of technical healthcare workers, said he has eaten nothing since Thursday. According to him, his ears ring and he is dizzy, signs of falling electrolyte levels.

The protesters demand the resignation of hospital director Wioletta Kacperska, who has run the hospital since 25 August. Powiat starost Robert Pieszczoch briefly visited the hospital on Friday and invited the unions to a powiat board meeting on Monday. According to Sawicka, no powiat councillor has contacted the protesters.