“The doctors will go back to work after the Minister officially apologizes for falsely accusing them, provides good working conditions, decides the issues of heat and technology in the hospital, and selects a new director through open votes,” said lawyer Ts. Narantsetseg.

G. Purevdorj, head of the committee of the doctors who handed in their resignations, denied accusations from the minister that doctors at the hospital accept bribes.

“If there is really someone, who has facts on doctors receiving a thousand dollars or several thousands of tugrug, they can apply to court. But instead to consider candies and treats given for gratitude as a bribe, lacking any evidence, one must know the difference between the two. Because of this, doctors’ reputation is really suffering.”

The hospital, which had previously not had heat this fall, now has one part receiving heat. However the hospital is not accepting any more patients and its operations have been halted, except for urgent operations.

The vice-chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Mongolian Health workers, Ch. Choij accused Gundalai of appointing “his own,” person for the position of the director.

“The new director G. Ganbaatar is allegedly a friend of Gundalai’s brother. How can you appoint someone like him, who is an ex-convict? If he won’t explain this action and fulfill our requirements, all health workers will oppose.”

But Minister of Health Gundalai told MonInfo Monday that he saw no problems in his actions.

“What’s wrong with him being my brother’s friend? There is no law against appointing your friend for such a position. Who cares?”

The Minister still hasn’t met with the doctors, who requested for his resignation while the new director has fired six doctors who previously submitted their letters of resignation.