ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - Croatian Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said on Wednesday that the government would on Thursday pass a decree on a ten-percent increase in doctors' wage budget notwithstanding the results of negotiations with
the Croatian Doctors' Union (HLS).
ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - Croatian Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said
on Wednesday that the government would on Thursday pass a decree on
a ten-percent increase in doctors' wage budget notwithstanding the
results of negotiations with the Croatian Doctors' Union (HLS).
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Doctors' salaries will thus increase ten percent on average, and
fifteen percent for doctors who work in difficult conditions, said
Vlahusic after yet another unsuccessful round of negotiations with
the HLS.
Today's negotiations again left the union's request for a 20%
increase in the salary base moot, since the government insists on a
ten percent rise in the wage budget incorporating a 6-22% increase
in bonuses for working conditions.
Vlahusic said that the doctors' strike had to end whether that be
the decision of the strike committee or the government, which would
abide by the law.
"The strike cannot last forever. Health care is much too important
for us to keep turning a blind eye on the strike," the minister
said.
He added that the state prosecution was investigating the deaths of
11 persons, suspected to have occurred due to negligence during the
strike.
HLS leader Ivica Babic said that doctors' salaries should be
increased by 20 percent in a linear manner to pay for their work
above the norm.
He refused to say how long the strike might last, but said that it
was in everybody's interest for it to end as soon as possible.
According to information from the field so far, all hospital
doctors are working in line with instructions from the HLS, i.e.
treating emergencies and conditions which may be fatal.
(hina) lml sb