Health professionals ask for better conditions, sign declaration

The Medical Trade Union Confederation is calling for better conditions for health professionals. It has therefore launched a declaration in which doctors are to give their consent to any dismissal from services. Trade unionists point to the long-running disintegration of healthcare, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The Ministry of Health (MZ) SR responded that it is working on the gradual systematic improvement of health care with regard to patients and health workers. According to confederation chairman Petr Visolajský, the declaration will not result in a strike, because doctors by law are not allowed to strike. However, he added that without the improvement of current working conditions, Slovak hospitals within six months will no longer be able to function.