😷 Slovakia's healthcare system is heading towards a major crisis as over 3,000 doctors plan to resign on New Year's Eve. The mass walkout is a bold statement against poor pay, tough working conditions, and what they see as government inaction. 🚨
\"The basic problem is that we see the money in the healthcare system is divided wrongly or in a way we don't like,\" said Dr. Martin Zakucia, a representative of the Doctors' Trade Union. \"We would like the state to pay more money to hospitals so the hospitals can then deliver better healthcare.\" 💔
Doctors are accusing the government of breaking a 2022 agreement—a 13-point memorandum that promised higher wages, better training, and improved hospital conditions. But according to healthcare economist Martin Smetana, many of those promises remain unfulfilled. 📄❌
\"I really hope we won't come to this point because this will end when the first patient dies who didn't have to die,\" Smetana warned. \"All the government, the ministry, and the unions need is to find a compromise. And they need to write up a new memorandum.\" 📝✌️
Public hospitals in Slovakia are already struggling with staff shortages. Almost 20% of new medical graduates leave the country for better pay and conditions abroad. 🌍✈️
Though the government recently approved a wage boost for nurses, doctors say the 6.4% raise offered to them falls short of the 9.7% promised in 2022. 💸
\"They broke the deal. And we want the deal back,\" Zakucia stated firmly. \"We had the press conference with the president of the republic when it was signed, with all the important stakeholders in healthcare. Everyone said the law was good because it was stable.\" 🤝
The clock is ticking as New Year's Eve approaches. Will the Slovak government step up to prevent a healthcare meltdown? 🕛⏳
Reference(s):
Crisis in Slovakian healthcare system as doctors plan mass resignation
cgtn.com
