KOSICE, December 1, (WEBNOVINY) — Medical specialists in Kosice policlinics perceived this Thursday’s strike called by the Slovak Union of Medical Specialists (SLUS) positively; they did, however, not close their offices. Only several of them remained closed, some specialists were on vacation or had so-called clinical days. Yet, most doctors were at work.
As SLUS President Andrej Janco informed, their goal was not to have their offices closed, but to express their support to protesting doctors working in state-run hospitals and to warn that curbing health insurance contributions for policy holders of the state would only make the situation in health care worse. “The strike met support of not only SLUS members, but also of our colleagues from other professional organizations. We have positive feedback from different parts of Slovakia,” said Janco, adding that they managed to show solidarity and unity of doctors. According to him, they should have further information on participation of individual outpatient doctors on Monday.
Janco also said that already in spring they warned that curbing the health insurance premiums paid for policy holders of the state to 4 percent of the average wage could jeopardize providing health care. He also expressed regret that the Medical Trade Unions Association gave up its intention to demand an increase of payment to five percent and is now only negotiating salaries of doctors working in hospitals. He said that it is necessary to exercise pressure to channel more funds into the health care system and to resolve problems of health care as a whole.
Private doctors want to stay with their patients, yet they also warn that another reduction of health insurance premiums for policy holders of the state would mean a catastrophe for Slovak healthcare. “The association of private doctors will decide on further actions at an unscheduled general assembly on December 14, including terminating the contracts with health insurance companies and interrupting work in our offices,” informed association’s President Ladislav Pasztor.
Medical specialists from the Klokocina Policlinic in Nitra joined the strike called by SLUS for this Thursday. As cardiologist Stefan Paulov informed, a half of the policlinic’s twelve specialists have joined the strike by posting notices on their door. According to Paulov “acute situations will be dealt with by those who do not strike so that no acute condition would remain uncured. Other patients can come some other time. The policlinic is empty, many have not come.” He said that the aim of the strike is to support doctors as such and to express moral support to doctors working in hospitals who fight for better health care.
SITA