Survey shows hospitals raising pay

Prague, Jan 16 (CTK) - Hospitals administered by the Czech Health Ministry have obeyed the command of Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) and increased the salaries of their staff as of January, otherwise their directors will be sacked, CTK has found yesterday.

At the Na Homolce Hospital, which is considered one of the best in the Czech Republic, the increase in the salaries does not pose any problem, but some hospitals are yet to save the money for the purpose.

Heger has said they may cut their investments.

The hospitals must increase the salaries of doctors, nurses and some paramedics.

The Na Homolce Hospital and Masaryk Oncological Institute MOU in Brno have said they will rise the pay of all employees.

"The Na Homolce Hospital increases the salaries to all the employees as of January 1. In the case of doctors, nurses and laboratory assistants, the pay rise amounts to 6.25 percent of the average base pay, technical-economic employees will get 1,000 crowns more and manual workers will receive 600 crowns more a month," hospital spokeswoman Jitka Kalouskova said.

The MOU will raise the pay by the promised 6.25 percent for all the employees, MOU director Jiri Vorlicek has told CTK.

Another pay rise will be considered by the mid-year, depending on the financial results, he added.

Other Prague hospitals are conducting talks on salaries and new collective agreements with trade unions these days.

Their spokespersons have told CTK that they will observe Heger's command and increase the staff's salaries, too.

More than a year ago, doctors' trade union launched the campaign Thanks, We Are Leaving in support of higher salaries of hospital doctors and changes in the health care sector. Some 3800 hospital doctors handed in their notices within the campaign.

In the end, the unions agreed with Heger on a considerable rise in the base pay for hospital doctors by 5000-8000 crowns, depending on their education and practice as from March 2011.

Further 10 percent rise was to follow in January. However, all the money is not available now.

($1=19.919 crowns)