President Petr Pavel has expressed approval of the agreement between the Ministry of Health and doctors who protested overworking. However, he emphasized that this agreement does not constitute a systemic solution. The statement was made during Tuesday’s visit to the Hradec Králové region.
Representatives of the Czech Medical Chamber and trade unions agreed to a proposal from the Minister of Health, Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09), which sees doctors’ salaries increased by 5,000 to 15,000 crowns per month based on their level of education. Earnings for other hospital employees are expected to increase by five percent.
Despite welcoming the agreement, President Pavel said he does not consider it a systemic solution. He believes it’s essential to discuss the education system for doctors, overtime, and the balance between professional and administrative work done by doctors. “We must address the issue systematically,” the president emphasized.
Since December, doctors have been resigning from overtime work, threatening the limitation of care and a significant extension of waiting times for non-acute surgical procedures.
The final agreement between the doctors and representatives of the ministry is expected to be signed on Friday.