Matovič lost his illusions, as did the doctors. Heger was already preparing Slovakia for the worst
After a series of negotiations over the past week, the government almost failed to reverse the worst-case scenario. The doctors refused to withdraw their statements after several attempts, despite the fact that the key date of December 1, after which Slovakia was threatened with collapse, is fast approaching.
The crisis was finally averted only on Saturday evening, when after several hours of negotiations between the government and the medical unions, both sides declared that they had succeeded in achieving this. At the same time, the head of the Medical Trade Union Association, Peter Visolajský, confirmed that thousands of doctors will withdraw their resignations and that both parties will sign a joint memorandum by the end of November.
From January 1, 2023, for example, an increase in the salary coefficient for health workers will apply. Even before that, during the week, the Minister of Finance Igor Matovič also tried to find the cards at the last minute. He put an offer for a stabilization allowance on the tablewhich was supposed to cost the state about 400 million one-time.
According to the proposal from the workshop of the Ministry of Finance, every doctor should receive an allowance of 10,000 euros. Those with certification would also receive a thousand euros for each year of experience, but up to a maximum of 30,000 euros.
It would not help the hospitals, the doctors argued
“If the Minister of Finance can find 400 million just for his idea, then we don’t understand how it can be a problem to find 40 million for the agreement they are offering me,” Visolajský responded to the proposal for a stabilization contribution. He emphasized the presence that Slovak solutions offered to hospitals will not help and the idea, according to him, “will not be successful”.
The Minister of Finance, who announced on Saturday that he would no longer participate in the negotiations, accused his medical trade unionists of hastily submitting a draft amendment to the employment contract for doctors with a notice period, which, according to him, should contain another 10 demands.
“When you add it up and find out that it costs another 70 million euros, I personally lost any illusions that this is an honest negotiation with good intentions,” Matovič said. Along with that, he vaguely hinted that the trade unionists “maybe have a different goal”, but at this point “he doesn’t see any good intentions”.
The situation was confused and it seemed that Slovakia had to start preparing for the worst. This was also confirmed by Prime Minister Eduard Heger in his words after negotiations with the V4 partners. They announced to the public that neighboring countries in case of emergency asked for help with health care provision.
“Today I also asked the prime ministers for help in case we need doctors for our hospitals next month,” announced Heger.
Matovič again in the spotlight
This did not leave one of the opposition leaders, head of the Smer party Robert Fico, cold. “I am ashamed as a dog. Are we some Burundi, or has the country been engulfed by a war or a natural disaster of unmanageable proportions,” asked the several-time former prime minister in his reaction to the current events.
And finally, at the end of the working week, Matovič reminded again that he is the one who guards the state treasury. At the same time, he emphasized that how the negotiations with the doctors turn out will depend on his decision, while we also have to take into account other expenses. For example, with those that will have to be solved “to solve the energy or refugee crisis”.
“Slovak public finances can’t take it, we don’t have it, we don’t steal. We really give maybe three times more than we should give compared to other state employees,” the Finance Minister sent a message to the medical trade unionists. Finally, he added that he did not want to live to see people die because of the doctors leaving.
01 – Modified: 2022-11-24 23:08:25 – Feat.: 1 – Title: What does it mean that the Budget Council found Matovič to be right 02 – Modified: 2022-11-24 22:47:20 – Feat.: 1 – Title: The recruitment allowance is intended to attract back experienced medical professionals, says Matovič 03 – Modified: 2022-11-24 17:28:35 – Feat.: 0 – Title: Doctors refused stabilization allowances. Checks do not solve the problems of hospitals, they refer to Matovič 04 – Modified: 2022-11-24 15:30:09 – Feat.: 1 – Title: Gas will become more expensive in 20 years. But the state will dampen the impact with a multibillion-dollar package for eight household tariffs 05 – Modified: 2022-11-24 11:02:52 – Feat.: 1 – Title: Visolajský reacts to the Heger government’s offer: Stabilization allowance will not help solve the problem in hospitals 06 – Modified: 2022 -11-23 18:02:59 – Feat.: 1 – Title: Hlas considers an agreement with doctors to be the only solution, KDH reminds the patient of his interests
01 – Modified: 2022-11-26 22:30:26 – Feat.: – Title: The crisis is over. The government and doctors have found an agreement, health workers withdraw their resignations 02 – Modified: 2022-11-26 17:03:09 – Feat.: – Title: Negotiations with medical trade unions continue at the government office. They insist on increasing the rate 03 – Modified: 2022-11-25 18:01:18 – Feat.: – Title: The success of the recovery plan requires as many actors as possible, agrees with the Cabinet 04 – Modified: 2022-11-25 16 :38:18 – Feat.: – Title: The German government approved regulated gas and electricity prices, announced Scholz 05 – Edited: 25.11.2022 12:11:19 – Feat.: – Title: Visolajský responds to Heger: Prime Minister’s request for aid from the V4 countries is embarrassing for Slovakia