MPs decided on Thursday afternoon that they would discuss the draft to increase the salaries of health workers in a fast-tracked legislative procedure. In addition to the announced increase in salaries of doctors and nurses, it also deals with the salaries of other health workers in institutional health facilities and departments of emergency medical service. In addition to increasing salary coefficients, years of experience should also be taken into account in salaries. With this proposal, the Health Ministry is thus responding to the lack of health workers, the decline in interest in studying individual health professions, the exit of health workers from the system and outside Slovakia. It also wants to prevent the announced collective notices.
It is impossible to satisfy all the demands made by doctors' trade unions at the same time, Premier Eduard Heger has posted on a social network. Head of the Doctors Trade Union Peter Visolajsky in August criticised the fact that some of the demands still have not been met, claiming that there is no other solution for doctors than to resign en masse. "We're living in difficult times. We're still recovering from the pandemic, Europe is facing an energy crisis and our neighbour is at war. We cannot satisfy all the desires and wishes of doctors' trade unions at the same time. It simply isn't possible," stated the premier.
Heger reiterated that he sees no reason for doctors to resign. According to him, the current Government has done the most for health-care workers in the last ten years. "Historic salary hikes will be a reality from the beginning of next year, and we'll also improve conditions for both patients and staff through Slovakia's Recovery and Resilience Plan," said the premier.
The Government on Wednesday (September 21) greenlighted a proposal to increase the salaries of medical workers, which, apart from announced hikes in the salaries of doctors and nurses, also addresses the salaries of emergency medical crews. In addition to increasing the salary coefficients for these professions, years of experience should be also taken into account.
Source: TASR
