Chilean miners accuse President Pinera of failing to keep ‘medical care deal’

LONDON - Chilean miners, who earned international recognition after surfacing from a gold and copper mine after two months, have reportedly accused the country’s President, Sebastian Pinera, of failing to honour a promise of providing at least six months of free medical care to them.

Four of the 33 Chilean miners have lost their medical leave because they missed scheduled doctors’ appointments while travelling in the weeks following their October 13 rescue after 69 days of stay underground.

“President Pinera agreed with them that the entire group would be cared for six months, and that is a promise that they feel is not being kept,” The Telegraph quoted their lawyer Edgardo Reinoso, as saying. einoso also said that their insurer ACHS had also dropped coverage for psychological services and only was covering basic medical care.

The San Jose mine, near Copiapo, collapsed on August 5. The South American nation celebrated when all 33 men were located 17 days later. Rescuers have been passing high-energy gels, water and food underground to keep the miners alive. (ANI)