Greece health care workers hold protest - Gayo Lues

Protesters carried a black coffin during the Thursday rally to symbolize the death of the public health system.

Protesters say hospitals are in danger with less staff under the new health sector reforms. They fear that doctors who cannot specialize will have less chance for employment and will be forced to seek work outside Greece.

Meanwhile, Greece government is still struggling to reach an agreement on key issues with foreign lenders for a new bailout.

The European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have presented Greece with two rescue packages in return for specific austerity measures, which include the cutting of public sector salaries and pensions, increasing taxes and overhauling the pension system.

According to a government spokesman, the two sides have not yet agreed on wages, pensions and recapitalization of banks.

Greece has the highest debt burden in proportion to the size of its economy in the entire 17-nation eurozone. Athens needs to finalize a 130-billion-euro bailout before bond redemptions come due next month.

Despite the austerity cuts and the bailout funds, which have been aimed at stimulating growth for the troubled Greek economy, the country has been in recession since 2009.

PG/JR/IS