Although Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (JV) has previously emphasized that the promised increase in medical salaries will be ensured next year, in fact, the 183 million euros set aside for it are not enough to fulfill the promise in full. Plus, that’s not all. The Ministry of Health, realizing that it is unlikely to receive more money, invites doctors to share the reserved, already insufficient money, for other purposes, because the increase in salaries is not the only need, reports the LTV program “de facto”.
How did this situation develop? Next year, the lowest salaries of doctors or their share in the payment rate for health care services should increase by 30%. This is because the 10% increase must be offset by this year’s outstanding amount, and another 20% as the statutory increase for 2021. That would be the culmination of a pay rise plan that promised doctors an additional 20% over three years. The Ministry of Health had estimated that it would need 211 million euros next year. However, the Ministry of Finance has planned 183 million euros. 28 million less. This is because the law stipulates two values to be followed – the promised interest and a specific amount, which was calculated at the end of 2018.
The Minister of Health Ilze Hänķele (A / P!) Explains that in these years the volume of services has also increased, which accordingly affects the section of the salary in the tariff, and the percentage of the actual amount is 211 million. But the Ministry of Finance does not take into account interest, but the amount. “The magic of the law, and I am ironically at the moment, is that the Saeima has tried to make an impossible combination by recording two characteristics, both of which can be used,” the health minister said.
The Ministry of Finance confirms that in its opinion, the specific amount is the most appropriate option for planning the budget. However, this means that instead of a 30% increase, an average of 25% would be added to the increase in the minimum wage. For doctors, this would mean 1,867 euros per month (instead of 1,930 euros) before taxes, for nurses 1,120 (instead of 1,158 euros), and for nursing assistants 747 euros per month (instead of 772 euros).
But even that is not yet guaranteed. Medical salaries are not the only need for health care. “Patients do not receive anything from the increase in funding from the health care budget. Zero, ”admitted Ķķele. According to her, it would be optimal if a lower salary increase could be agreed with doctors. “Namely, the industry itself should say that they would be willing to share with patients. Well, let’s see, “the minister pointed out.
Medical organizations, which have been introduced to the offer earlier this week, are preparing a response. The Young Doctors Association is also currently conducting a survey of members. However, already now the head of the association Kārlis Rācenis expresses the opinion that doctors should not make such a choice. “We have repeatedly stated that the burden on the patient’s shoulders is also very high. That there additional funding is also needed. But it seems to me that it is neither right nor fair to do so that at the moment when the Cabinet finds funding for the remuneration of medical staff, which is earmarked, specific funding, now say – thank you, we will still review the financing of medical staff remuneration and transfer it to other intentions. , ”Said K. Rācenis.
Earlier, the New Medical Association also insisted that the increase should be the size of the bidder. Now that it is known that this will not be the case even if the part of the salary is not removed from the needs of patients, such a categorical position no longer exists. “Before that, there were some protests. But those 25% are still very close to 30%, and we already understand their current situation very well, ”K. Rācenis pointed out.
Not everyone would be ready to come to terms. Anta Bērziņa, the nurse of the Eastern Hospital, who started working at the hospital nine years ago as a sanitary worker and has been working as a nurse for seven years, admits that the growth of previous years has been significant. However, it must be understood that this was after a great fall, when wages were critically low for years. “We would not want to allow these discussions with each other, because we believe that we deserve the promised interest, because if they are in the law, they must be,” said A. Bērziņa.
“I am not happy to make such choices,” the health minister said, noting that “in a normal world, there should be enough money to reward doctors, keep promises, and provide patients.” But, as we already know, there is no money in repeating the right phrases. ”
However, the budget negotiations are not over. It will be discussed in the government by mid-October, and then in the Saeima. The government has nine ministers (Minister of Finance Jānis Reirs (JV), Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs (JV), Minister of Justice Jānis Bordāns (JKP), Minister of Transport Tālis Linkaits (JKP), Minister of Education and Science Ilga Šuplinska (JKP), Minister of Welfare Ramona Petraviča (KPV LV), Minister of Economics Jānis Vitenbergs (KPV LV), Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Juris Pūce (A / P!), Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks (A / P!)), Who voted as Members of the Saeima in 2018 on salary increases. In the Saeima, in turn, the majority of deputies, because the vote on this promise was unanimous.
Already last year, when preparing the 2020 budget, they were criticized for not fulfilling their own destiny. This summer, the Ministry of Health also introduced a new model for calculating the salaries of doctors, changing the principles of basic salaries and allowances. It also provided for a smoother but higher wage increase. The ministry says it will not apply until 2022. However, if the increase in wages next year cannot be ensured in the amount promised by law, it could be compensated through the new model in the coming years. There are also discussions about the new model, because there is no consensus in the industry.
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