Jihlava, South Moravia, May 16 (CTK) – The payments for state policyholders should increase by four to five billion crowns next year, which is necessary, because the salaries of the health personnel are to rise by 10 percent, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) told CTK on Monday.
Sobotka has supported Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek (CSSD) who demands that the rise should reach at least four billion.
However, Finance Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) only wants to give two billion crowns more to the system.
“The rise is necessary as it has turned out that private employers, often from professions totally outside the health care, are winning over nurses,” Sobotka said.
“They may offer them the same salary, but less stress, overtime and burden. I support Nemecek in his effort to increase the payment for state policyholders,” Sobotka said.
Along with a government decree, under with the state payment is to increase by 9.88 billion crowns in 2017, the Health Ministry has drafted an amendment to the insurance law.
Under the bill, the state payment is to be regularly index-linked.
At present, the state pays 870 crowns a month for each of the almost six million policyholders.
In four years, the state payments is to reach the level of policyholders without taxable incomes.
The coalition government, doctors and trade unions have agreed on a 10 percent rise of salaries in hospitals in 2017.
