April 29, 2023 – Croatian nurses and other medical staff have announced protests starting next week, demanding better regard for their rights, including pay. They emphasize the importance of all medical staff who aren’t doctors. Croatian doctors have recently negotiated improved conditions for themselves as well.
After the Croatian Professional Union of Nurses and Medical Technicians announced protests for next week, the same was confirmed today by the Independent Union of Health and Social Care. “Together with the sister union, we will start protest activities. We demand equality and dignity for all workers in the system, and we ask that the minister and the prime minister finally recognize that there are other workers in the health system besides doctors. These are health and non-health workers who are needed by the system and patients,” said Stjepan Topolnjak, president of the Independent Union of Health and Social Care, report HRT/Index.
Commenting on the government’s recent decision to increase the coefficients in health care, Topolnjak said that it is an increase only for doctors and “the return of the coefficients that were reduced by 3 percent for bachelor’s degrees and intermediate professional training in primary and secondary health care in 2013”.
“We are asking for at least 10 percent for all workers in the healthcare system,” he emphasized.
He announced that “peaceful protests will now be organized during the break that everyone has the right to.” They will start with protests on Wednesday in front of hospitals in Split, KB Dubrava, and OB Dubrovnik and will go on every day until May 10.
Croatian nurses and medical technicians will then organize a larger protest rally on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb on May 12, on International Nurses Day. First, however, they need to agree on this with other unions and the Chamber.
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