Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
The salaries of Slovak nurses will grow by up to 16 percent next year based on a 2019 draft budget for the health care sector. The hike is part of the health care sector’s budget proposal of €5.2 billion, an increase of €300 million compared to 2018. In addition to the salary increases for medical staff, the funds will also be used for reconstruction, medical equipment and screenings, Finance Minister Peter Kažimír and Health Minister Andrea Kalavská informed on September 28.
Staffing is a major problem for the country’s health-care sector because nurses leave Slovakia to go abroad where they can get higher remuneration and better working conditions. Therefore, the Health Ministry has decided to dedicate a large amount of funding to raise salaries in the health sector.
“Our first intention was to look at the salaries of health workers, and here we are in agreement with the Finance Ministry in believing that there should be the highest across-the-board increase in salary for nurses, midwives and health care assistants in particular,” said Kalavská, as cited by the TASR newswire.
A nurse-specialist will enjoy a salary increase of up to 16 percent or about €100-130 net as of January 1.
The Health Ministry’s effort is not only to stabilise staff in institutional facilities and outpatient departments, but also to catch up with the investment debt in Slovak hospitals. The head of the Health Ministry wants to use these capital expenditures to better equip hospitals, to restore equipment and to renovate and reconstruct medical facilities.
“For the first time in history, the health care sector will have a budget of €5.2 billion,” said Kažimír, adding that this sum includes funds coming from the compulsory health insurance scheme, the state budget and others.
