BRATISLAVA, September 25, (WEBNOVINY)- The number of collected resignation notices by Slovak doctors currently in the hands of trade unions exceeded 2,000 as of this Saturday, informed the Medical Trade Unions Association (LOZ) whose chairmen agreed on Saturday to continue the protest against the desperate situation of the health sector. Czech doctors succeeded to force the responsible organs to give them pay rise by CZK 5,000-8,000 a month in the same form of protest they held earlier this year. Slovak doctors have until September 30 to deliver their resignation notices, said the LOZ. The association continues collecting signed notices in which doctors entrust them to file notices on their behalf and plans to submit them all at once. The LOZ believes that the chosen form of protest is in line with the local labor legislation, which several renowned legal experts independently confirmed. It sees behind the statement of the Health Minister who says that notices are at odds with the law efforts to distract the discussion from the substance of the crucial problems burdening the Slovak health sector.
Notices have been still piling at the LOZ headquarters in Bratislava coming from hospitals all over Slovakia. “The number of notices that have arrived are evidence that doctors are aware of seriousness of the situation and despite threats and pressure from many sides they showed their will and resolution to change the non-functional system,“ said LOZ. According to trade unions notices are the only legitimate way at present how to change the attitude to the healthcare provision, remuneration of doctors and their working conditions underscoring doctors failed to find a partner in the long run for a dialogue on effective solutions and ways out from the crisis situation and for averting the approaching collapse of the health system.
LOZ said that the Slovak Medical Calmer and other institutions, bosses of doctors and also their colleagues from abroad support the protest. Doctor also claim to have patients’ support.
LOZ started collecting notices from physicians who agreed to this form of protest as of August 25 of this year. At that time, 3,827 physicians from 51 hospitals have signed a declaration of readiness to submit a notice to their employers. The Medical Trade Unions Association has four requirements: to observe the Labor Code, change the system of health care funding, stop transformation of hospitals into joint-stock companies and increase wages of health care employees. The doctors perceive all their requirements as a complex. They will be satisfied only if the Health Ministry fulfills all of their demands. LOZ presently clusters nearly 2,000 members. According to expert estimates, about six thousand doctors currently work in hospitals in Slovakia.
SITA
