- Hans Weber
- November 1, 2024
Over 6,100 Doctors Reject Overtime in December, Prompting Postponement of Medical Procedures in the Czech Republic
In a significant development, the Junior Doctors Section of the Czech Medical Chamber’s (CLK) has announced that more than 6,100 doctors have rejected overtime work scheduled for December. This decision is expected to lead to the postponement of hundreds of operations and thousands of outpatient visits from the beginning of the month. The doctors have clarified that hospitals will primarily focus on preserving emergency care during this period.
Monika Hilserova of the CLK section revealed that some wards in both larger and smaller hospitals are experiencing high levels of participation, with 70-100% of doctors engaging in the protest. This mass refusal of overtime work is a response to recent changes in the Labour Code, which doubled the maximum possible number of voluntary overtime hours from 416 to 832 hours a year and abolished uninterrupted 24-hour shifts in hospitals.
Health Minister Vlastimil Valek is set to meet with the protesting doctors to present his proposals aimed at addressing their concerns, particularly regarding increasing basic salaries and calculating payrolls for healthcare workers. However, CLK Vice-President Jan Prada indicated that the current proposals are considered insufficient by the doctors.
The impact of the protest is expected to affect mainly planned and elective care, with acute operations also facing significant limitations in terms of waiting times. According to Prada, the action is not a protest or threat but a response in line with the Labour Code.
The protest underscores the challenges in the healthcare sector, not only related to working conditions but also to salary issues. While the government has allocated up to CZK 9 billion for pay rises in hospitals for the next year, doctors are demanding an increase in their basic pay. The doctors are calling for a linkage between the basic remuneration of a doctor and the average pay in the country, with proposed monthly salaries ranging between CZK 65,000 and 130,000, depending on experience. The ongoing negotiations between healthcare representatives and the government are crucial to finding a resolution and ensuring the uninterrupted provision of medical services.
Article by Prague Forum
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