Minister of Health Kamil Šaško (Voice-SD) insists that 16 of the 18 requirements of the Medical Trade Union (LOZ) have been met, or that there is a clear plan for their fulfillment in the near future. He addressed their deduction in a letter not only to trade unionists, but also to directors of health facilities throughout Slovakia and doctors. TASR was informed about this by the communication department of the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Slovak Republic. According to Šašek, they could reach an agreement with the trade unions on December 20 at the latest. He is asking them for a statement on the issue of salaries by Monday (December 16).
In the letter, the Minister presented a plan to fulfill the requirements in the first quarter of 2025. “In fact, it is 18 points, since the 19th point is the text of the Agreement on the fulfillment of the memorandum, which depends on the agreement on 18 requirements. In the letter, the minister further requests that the LOZ take a clear position by Monday, December 16, especially on the issue of salaries. they said from the Ministry of Health. The Minister requests a clear public statement from LOZ, whether it is about salaries or not, and if so, in what form and what they demand.
The deduction of the memorandum contains details of the stage of fulfillment of the requirements that LOZ considers to be achievable by the end of this year. “At this moment, the ball is on the side of the Medical Trade Union Association. We really did everything to ensure that the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive, which were presented less than a week ago, were heard, and in a record short time we succeeded in legislatively enforcing many changes. At this moment, if it is not about salaries, then there is no other reason for the resignation,” declared Šaško.
According to the Ministry of Health, the space for the official meeting is reserved for Tuesday (December 17), because it is essential that an agreement be on the table before the next cabinet meeting on Wednesday (18/12).
More than 3,300 doctors from hospitals across Slovakia resigned as a sign of dissatisfaction with the situation in the healthcare sector. They are willing to withdraw their resignations if the government starts fulfilling their demands. In particular, they insist on fulfilling the points of the memorandum from 2022, which the then government cabinet signed with the medical trade unions.
