Nurses' salaries to rise by up to 16%

The basic salaries of Slovak nurses will grow by 10% next year based on a 2019 draft budget for the health care sector agreed between the Finance and Health Ministry. However, specialized, experienced nurses should see their income grow by up to 16%. Thus, they should earn €100 to €130 more in net terms. Health Minister Andrea Kalavská believes that this hike should help to stabilize the situation. The Nurses' Union positively welcomed the information on the salary hike. However, Milan Laurinc of the Slovak Chamber of Nurses does not believe that the €100 extra will stop Slovak nurses from leaving the country. Moreover, Laurinc said that he did not know about the details regarding the hike, and that the Health Minister did not negotiate it with the Chamber of Nurses. Kalavská said that she had been negotiating the hike ever since she became Minister and that this hike was a compromise between the Finance and Health Ministry.