Nearly half of all doctors in Slovakia work for multiple employers. The Supreme Audit Office highlighted cases such as a doctor employed at five healthcare facilities and three schools, and another who worked part-time in a medical specialty while receiving smaller payments from around 10 healthcare providers, with most of his income coming from an IT company. While multiple positions can help doctors exchange experience, the Office warns this raises questions about whether some physicians are performing at a level that matches their salaries. It also points to the risk of selectively referring patients to private facilities.
The Medical Trade Union Association welcomed the findings and called for systemic solutions, including university employee status for teaching physicians. Chairman Peter Visolajský proposed another measure: “We call on the Health Ministry and Parliament to draft legislation allowing the publication of the names of doctors and staff holding an abnormally high number of positions, to ensure transparency and accountability regarding how and why they hold these jobs.”
The union is also calling for an electronic attendance system and greater accountability from insurance companies when signing contracts.
According to the Health Ministry, holding multiple jobs is not a problem in itself, as long as healthcare quality does not suffer. Spokesperson Veronika Daničová said: “It is the responsibility of each physician to inform hospital management about any additional employment commitments so these can be considered when setting working conditions at the facility.”
Alexander Mayer, director of the University Hospital in Bratislava, said hospital directors are not authorized to investigate where else employees work. In some countries, central working-hours registries are already in place.
Source: STVR
