Slovakia’s parliament passes legislation that could ban doctors from protesting low pay

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s parliament has approved legislation drafted by the government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico that could effectively ban doctors from protesting against low pay. The law was adopted as the government’s response to a move by more than 3,000 doctors in the country’s hospitals, a majority, to quit  their job at the beginning of next year. The approved law gives the government an option to call an emergency situation in the case healthcare might not be available. Doctors would then be obliged to work. Refusal to do so could result in imprisonment. Labor unions oppose the government’s move.