Ministry Wants Higher Salaries for Health Workers to Make Them Competitive (2)

Bratislava, October 14 (TASR) - The salaries of health professionals next year could be increased so that the Slovak health care system is competitive with other countries, Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky (an OLaNO nominee) said on Thursday. A bonus for working in COVID departments should also be reintroduced under certain conditions. The head of the Health Ministry announced that they'll present an analysis of health professionals' salaries in the surrounding countries in a short time. He believes that this will resolve the issue of the ability to compete with other countries and thus prevent the exodus of health professionals. The minister also thanked representatives of health professionals for their position in the issue of the budget as well as the Finance Ministry and the Government for understanding the requirements for the stabilisation of staff. "We've agreed with Prime Minister [Eduard Heger (OLaNO)] and Finance Minister [Igor Matovic (OLaNO)] that from the time when the number of COVID patients in hospitals exceeds 1,000, seven-euro bonuses will be paid to employees in COVID departments," he added. am/mcs