Good to have you with us! Here is the latest edition of Today in Slovakia - all the top news from Monday, wrapped up in one place!
Doctors reject extra hours
Health Minister Kamil Šaško. (source: Martin Baumann)
The ongoing crisis in Slovakia’s hospitals entered a new phase on Monday, as hundreds of doctors and nurses refused to work overtime. The move raises serious concerns about the ability of hospitals to provide care during afternoons, evenings, and weekends.
At Bratislava’s University Hospital, more than 300 of its 1,600 doctors have already withdrawn from overtime work. The first refusals were submitted last Friday in Trenčín, where 99 doctors withdrew from overtime, and in Trnava, with 201 following suit. Hundreds more have joined the protest in Banská Bystrica, Košice, and Prešov, bringing the total to approximately 1,500 doctors nationwide.
“Without these overtime hours—often illegal—our hospitals cannot function,” said Peter Visolajský, head of the doctors’ union (LOZ), on Monday.
Under Slovakia’s Labour Code, doctors can be mandated to work 150 hours of overtime and 100 hours of on-call duty annually. Beyond that, they must give consent for additional hours. By rescinding their consent, doctors can effectively withdraw from such duties without notice, leaving hospitals scrambling to fill the gaps.
Why: Paediatrician and union leader Peter Visolajský says the latest move by doctors is a direct response to inflammatory remarks made by government officials over the weekend. Hlas chair and Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok sparked outrage when he likened doctors to terrorists — a comparison that’s not without precedent. In 2022, during a similar healthcare crisis, then-finance minister Igor Matovič (Slovensko) also labelled doctors as “terrorists.” Meanwhile, President Peter Pellegrini, the honorary chair of Hlas, added fuel to the fire by urging Visolajský to “come out of the trenches.” However, Visolajský assured that doctors would continue working overtime as long as negotiations remain underway.
LOZ chair Peter Visolajský (l) and LOZ member Dalibor Fedák on December 16, 2024. (source: TASR – Martin Baumann)
A bigger picture: More than 3,300 doctors working in hospitals across Slovakia have handed in their resignations, with the majority set to leave by the end of the year unless the government declares an emergency situation. Such a move would force the doctors to return to work under the threat of imprisonment for up to one year. Negotiations between the doctors’ union and Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas) remain deadlocked. Talks on Monday failed to produce an agreement on the union’s demands, which include higher wages, increased healthcare funding, and the construction of a new public hospital in Bratislava. Despite Minister Šaško claiming to have addressed 16 out of the union’s 18 demands, the key issues of salaries and the promised hospital remain unresolved. Doctors also want the repeal of a law that threatens them with prison if they refuse to return to work during an emergency situation.
What’s next: The government is set to convene its final scheduled meeting of the year on Wednesday, raising the possibility of declaring an emergency situation in regions at risk. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer) has not engaged in discussions with doctors, even though some of them saved his life after a shooting attack in May. If a deal is struck by any chance, MPs already on holiday will need to return to Bratislava for a special session before the end of 2024.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR
Feet over buses: Public transport in Bratislava is about to get more expensive, and city officials are pointing fingers at the national government.
What a generous cabinet: The government has announced additional aid to help households cope with energy costs.
(Un) expected blow: A decision by a credit rating agency has left Slovakia’s Finance Ministry fuming.
Last week in Slovakia: Once a political heavyweight with a carefully curated image, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s reputation appears to be in ruins, writes Michaela Terenzani.
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FEATURE
Slovak Egyptologists unearth ancient mysteries
The Slovak team with the Slovak Ambassador to Egypt Lenka Miháliková (third from left). Jozef Hudec is fifth from left. (source: Veronika Verešová)
Slovak Egyptologists have wrapped up their 14th season at Tell el-Retaba, a crucial site in Egypt’s Nile delta. Among the fascinating finds are a Hyksos grave containing a 3,800-year-old donkey, seen as a status symbol akin to a modern Harley-Davidson, and evidence of two massive fortresses dating back thousands of years. The discoveries shed light on ancient transportation, defence strategies, and cultural practices, offering new insights into Egypt’s complex history.
TAKE A SELFIE WITH...
Christmas rubbish lorry
In Bratislava, it’s not just trams spreading the festive cheer – there’s also a Christmas rubbish lorry making the rounds. Every weekday until December 20, this merry machine brings a touch of holiday magic to the city streets from 16:00 to 20:00. Don’t worry, it’s not there to collect your bins – it’s purely for the vibes. And mark your calendars: on December 20, it’ll even roll into the Old Town for a special stop!
IN OTHER NEWS
The European Commission has taken Slovakia to the European Court of Justice for failing to adequately treat municipal wastewater, breaching a 1991 directive requiring collection and purification before discharge into nature. Slovakia’s Environment Minister, Tomáš Taraba, blamed the issue on the incompetence of his predecessors. (TASR)
A recent survey by Ipsos for Home Credit Slovakia found that 60 percent of Slovaks engage in a big clean-up before Christmas, yet only 9 percent opt to hire a cleaner. The survey, conducted in mid-November, highlights a clear preference for DIY tidying over professional services. (TASR)
Slovakia is set to submit its fifth request for payment under the EU recovery plan, worth nearly €600 million. The country has met 20 of the 21 milestones required, covering reforms and investments in transport, climate adaptation, education, science, health, anti-corruption measures, digitalisation, and energy security. However, the European Commission has deemed plans to buy private land in national parks unfeasible. Four more payment requests remain, with the next due by mid-2026, according to government representative Peter Kmec. (TASR)
The Mastercard Economics Institute has forecast that Slovakia’s economy will grow by 1.7 percent next year, a significant downgrade from the National Bank of Slovakia’s autumn projection. The central bank anticipates growth of 2.5 percent for both this year and next. (TASR)
Last year, Slovakia’s intelligence service focused on the activities of Russian and Chinese operatives within the country, according to the 2023 report by the Slovak Information Service (SIS), which was acknowledged by MPs last week. The report highlights Russia’s ongoing interest in obtaining information about Slovakia’s armed forces, the Defence Ministry, and NATO, particularly concerning assistance to Ukraine. Meanwhile, SIS also observed China’s active efforts to establish partnerships in the academic sector, with a particular focus on natural and technical sciences. (TASR)
On Sunday, a new train connection from Bratislava to Kyiv was launched. In the photo, a police officer and a member of the Slovak Financial Administration inspect the luggage of a passenger on the first direct train from Ukraine, which arrived in the town of Čierna nad Tisou in the Trebišov district on Sunday, December 15, 2024. (source: TASR-František Iván)
TUESDAY SKIES: A mix of variable and, at times, extensive cloud cover across the country, with the chance of the odd shower in places. Temperatures will be mild for the season, reaching 7°C to 12°C in most areas. However, the north and east will feel cooler, with highs generally between 2°C and 7°C. (SHMÚ)
PARTY TIME: Happy namesday to all the Kornélias out there! Celebrate in style this Tuesday, December 17—it’s your special day in Slovakia!
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