ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Ten health and health insurance-related trade unions are willing to go on strike due to the government's failure to meet obligations assumed in the health sector, representatives said on Wednesday. The unions
demand that salaries in the health sector be adjusted to those in public and state-owned companies, which under a work contract should have been done on Oct. 1. As a result, salaries in October should have risen by 12 percent, which is something the unions will not give up on. They also seek to participate in a reform of the health sector. The unions believe the work of physicians, nurses and other health staff is inadequately valued, that provisions from the work contract are not complied with, and that unionists are prevented from co-creating the health reform. The vice president of the Croatian Physicians' Trade Union, Josip Jelic, said most health institutions were unable to pay compen
ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - Ten health and health insurance-related
trade unions are willing to go on strike due to the government's
failure to meet obligations assumed in the health sector,
representatives said on Wednesday.
The unions demand that salaries in the health sector be adjusted to
those in public and state-owned companies, which under a work
contract should have been done on Oct. 1. As a result, salaries in
October should have risen by 12 percent, which is something the
unions will not give up on. They also seek to participate in a reform
of the health sector.
The unions believe the work of physicians, nurses and other health
staff is inadequately valued, that provisions from the work
contract are not complied with, and that unionists are prevented
from co-creating the health reform.
The vice president of the Croatian Physicians' Trade Union, Josip
Jelic, said most health institutions were unable to pay
compensation for working holidays and weekends, bonuses, etc.
Until this year, the health sector did not get even one kuna from the
state budget, and only a mere 200 million ($22.2 million) of a
promised 1.5 billion ($166 million) to clear health institutions'
debts.
The average monthly salary for the medical specialist is about
5,400 kuna ($600) without compensation for being on duty, while a
nurse with 20 years of service is paid 3,500 kuna ($388.8).
"According to a World Health Organisation research, Croatia is 42nd
among 191 countries as to the quality and efficiency of the health
sector. If paid accordingly, we would be more contented," said
Jelic.
Slovenia is 38th and the United States 37th on the list.
(hina) ha jn