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Tag: trade unions
The issue of overtimes of doctors in hospitals remains unresolved. Trade unionists are asking for comprehensive solution. The proposal, they offer, however, according to the Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenska, does not solve anything. There is no agreement; however, patients should not be endangered. Both sides, though they have not found a common solution of overtime issue, confirmed that doctors’ services are secured for now. Medical Trade Union justifies the request for solution of overtime issue by the effort of cleaning the chaos in the service schedules. Unions asked for determination of maximum overtimes for physician per month.
The Ministry of Health wanted to enforce that the physicians, nurses and other health professionals had to start work during the state of emergency. According to the Act, the doctors and nurses could be threatening not only by a fine to € 3300, but also by the prison. If somebody avoids going to work, could be threatening by to two years in prison. If there will be severe damage to the health of the patient or patient will die, the penalty may be extended to five years.
The proposal did not like even the largest medical organization bringing together trade unionists in Europe - the European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS).
The proposal was finally withdrawn. Amendment to Act on providers has a milder version, which allows introducing a two-three shift service after consultation with the union. Amendment should come into force from April 2013.
Some doctors of Hospital in Žilina are rebelling against the director. On Saturday, according to the order of director, did not have to remain on department for long-term sickness any doctor. The doctor, however, did not bidding the order. During his services he at last had to handle with acute conditions. Medical Trade Union in this context called for immediate intervention Minister of Health. According to the hospital director Štefan Volák, doctors only spread the panic that the people will not provide the health care. He is arguing that the patients in all departments have been properly cared for over the weekend.
Economy measures of the director of Faculty hospital in Žilina, Štefan Volák, provoked the strong resentment of its employees. In an effort to streamline the management gave notice to 18 doctors. Doctors refuse these measures and turned themselves to Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská. She, however, made a stand for director. Director faces the extreme criticism also due to the effort for releasing of the boss of trade unionists in Žilina, Peter Blaško. Representatives of medical trade unions from Poland, Czech republic and Hungary designated this step as a rapid intervention in the principles of democracy.
Hundreds of healthcare professionals and citizens of Žilina protesting against the cancelling of departments in hospital in Žilina have met on the meeting, where the dissatisfaction with measures in faculty hospital was declared. According to the head of Medical Trade Union, Peter Visolajský, the cancelling of departments does not mean a savings on wages, but the failure to provide health care. Management of hospital in its statement refused the intimidation and claims that doctors were offered to negotiate.
Medical trade unionists called by the letter on the Minister of Health to dismiss the director of faculty hospital in Žilina, Štefan Volák. He officially asked three trade unions of Žilina hospital to agree with the notice for Vice President of Medical Trade Union and President of basic organization of Medical Trade Union in Faculty hospital in Žilina, Peter Blaško. According to the trade unionists it is a discriminatory behaviour of the management of hospital due to his activity related to organization of symbolic protest for fulfilling of Memorandum.
A week after the protest of healthcare professionals from V4 countries the doctors in Slovakia will strike again. This time it will not be a nationwide action, protest will take place only in hospital in Žilina. Assembly is organized by its employees who, according to the President of Medical Trade Union Peter Visolajský, do not agree with cancelling of department for long-term sickness and orthopaedic department, as well as with dismissing of head of medical trade unionists in Faculty hospital in Žilina, Peter Blaško. Protest will take place on Monday, November 26, at 3.30 pm in front of the hospital in Žilina.
Managements of the hospitals are developing the pressure on doctors to not only sign the approval with overtimes, but also to camouflage the number of it, so they formally do not exceed the limit set by the Labour Code. This is claimed by the Medical Trade Union. According to the Union for example in the Faculty hospital in Nitra there are spread information that chiefs of departments are obligated to negotiate with all doctors, who do not want to sign the services, but also to personally “remind” them of all possibilities resulting from disagreement with services for 2013, as a three-shift operation, non-signing of circulations and zero personal assessment.
Doctors in hospitals might newly stop serving the overtimes. As was in the frame of common protest of doctors from V4 countries announced by the medical trade unionists, they have repeatedly shown their ability to act and they are ready to show on the non-compliance with Labour Code by termination of medical services. Doctors would thus, according to the President of Medical Trade Union, Peter Visolajský, go home at 3.30 pm. They do not want to exacerbate the situation until the end of this year, they prefer the dialogue.
Medical Trade Union calls on Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská to submit the proposal, which contains the exact term of implementation of legislative guarantee of the third increasing of salaries of doctors. As was further stated in the statement provided by the President of the Union, Peter Visolajský, they are also asking the Minister for not connecting the experiment of implementation of unitary system with the legislative guarantee of third increasing of salaries.
