ZAGREB, Jan 7 (Hina) - If more funds are demanded for doctors' salaries, there will be no new medicines or investments in the health system, which has not seen any investments in the past decade, Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said on
Tuesday, commenting on a doctors' strike scheduled for January 15.
ZAGREB, Jan 7 (Hina) - If more funds are demanded for doctors'
salaries, there will be no new medicines or investments in the
health system, which has not seen any investments in the past
decade, Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said on Tuesday, commenting
on a doctors' strike scheduled for January 15. #L#
The Croatian Doctors' Union has demanded an increase in the
salaries of newly employed doctors to amount to two average
salaries, or around 7,000 kuna, and an increase in specialists'
salaries in the amount of two and a half average salaries, or 9,000
kuna.
"The salaries of employees in the health system will this year rise
by 10%, but we are willing to raise the salaries of doctors with good
performance by another 25%, however, the union does not want to
negotiate about this," Vlahusic told Hina.
He added that this year doctors would be able to earn additional
salaries by working in their own practices in the afternoon. They
would also be ensured paid additional training, while a number of
young doctors would be given permanent work contracts, he said.
The employment of young doctors is the main task this year, so the
number of unemployed doctors could fall below 100, the minister
said.
Hospital managements will have to secure the normal operation of
hospitals during the strike, in line with the ministry's
instructions, and participants in the strike would not be paid for
the time spent on strike, he said.
Vlahusic believes that GPs do not have any reason to strike because
the price of their work in 2003 was increased in line with talks with
the Croatian Doctors' Chamber.
Doctors' Union leader Ivica Babic said that preparations for the
strike were nearing completion and that a poll among doctors with
private practices on their joining in the strike of hospital
doctors should be completed by Friday.
Babic warns that the basic salary of a GP totals 4,300 kuna, which he
says is "shamefully low".
The union leader believes that the Ministry's proposal that doctors
with good performance be given a 25-percent raise, while those who
do not fulfil their obligations receive salaries reduced by 25
percent is "an attempt to cause chaos in the health system".
The union demands that the rights from the existing collective
agreement from 1995 on work payment, days off, holidays and
training be respected.
Our goal is the signing of a collective agreement which will define
specific rights and obligations for every profession, Babic said.
(hina) rml