Billions of zlotys for increases for medical staff. Hospitals are waiting for funds

According to estimates, the cost of closest increases in full -time health care workers will amount to PLN 9.1 billion per year – said Daniel Rutkowski, president of the medical technology and tariff assessment agency on Thursday. Hospital directors are still waiting for information about funds for increases for employees on contracts.

In Warsaw, during the Congress of the National Association of Employers of Poviat Hospital, participating in one of the panels of the Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna announced that the heads of the medical technology and tariff assessment agency and the National Health Fund will transfer to the participants of the Congress, what amounts will be transferred to the upcoming increases in health protection.

July 1 is the date of the next, guaranteed by the Act, an increase in minimal wages in healthcare. They apply to doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory diagnostics, physiotherapists, paramedics and other healthcare employees. The amount of minimum wage in health care depends on the average salary in the national economy in the previous year and the work factor assigned to a given position.

Daniel Rutkowski, president of the Agency for Assessment of Medical Technology and Tariffs, told OZPSP members that, according to the calculations of the Agency, the cost of upcoming increases in healthcare workers on work contracts will be per year (counting from July 1 this year) PLN 9.1 billion. Last year it was PLN 7.5 billion.

President Aotmit did not provide estimates regarding the costs of pay valorisation for medical staff on contracts, as asked by hospital directors.

According to the calculations of the National Association of Employers of Poviat Hospitals to realize increases for full -time and contract employees in the second half of this year. Hospitals will need PLN 8.5-9 billion, i.e. approx. PLN 18 billion per year.

“There is no consent that the increase would be only for employees; that after three years there would be a change in the interpretation of law and hospital directors had to explain to other employees on contracts that there will be no increases” – commented the president of OZPSP Waldemar Malinowski.

The union had previously appealed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk to guarantee funds for increases in the form of a targeted subsidy. “Money for this purpose is to secure the state, it results from the act” – emphasized the head of OZPSP.

The president of the National Health Fund Filip Nowak said during the debate that other components will reach up to the amount concerning full -time employees, which are currently calculated. “We will also want to offer slightly higher financing to poviat hospitals, which are a very important element of the system,” he added.

Aotmit will present the final version of the recommendation at the beginning of June. Last year's overall agency recommendation amounted to PLN 15 billion.

The National Association of Poviat Hospital Employers is conducting an information campaign about the importance and the future of poviat hospitals. There are over 300 of them in Poland. They are located mainly in smaller cities and in rural areas. Patients treat chronic diseases, sudden cases and use health prevention.

Poviat hospitals usually lead an internal one, general surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, gynecology and obstetrics. Every year, about seven million people use them. Their current debt exceeds PLN 8 billion.

Anita Karwowska (PAP)

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