Hungarian healthcare system in a tragic situation

The wages in Hungary are constantly growing with the exception of two sectors: healthcare and education. In healthcare, salaries only increased by 2.2 pc which does not reach the annual inflation in Hungary, and the situation is even worse in education.

At least there are plans

According to the data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, salaries were on average 12.1 pc higher than in the previous year – portfolio.hu reported -, though they are still very low. Since both the minimum wage and the guaranteed minimum wage grew, no employers could escape the need for salary increase. Therefore, the average gross income in Hungary rose to 345,900 HUF (EUR 1,071) in February which is 356,900 HUF (EUR 1,100) if we take out public workers. In the public service sector, this average sum was 324,600 HUF (EUR 1,000).

However, if we analyse the details, it immediately appears that

in the healthcare and education sectors, salaries rose by almost nothing.

In healthcare, salaries increased only by 2.2 pc compared to the previous year. If we take out public workers, the situation becomes worse since this rate decreases to only 2.1 pc.

If we add the inflation data of February which was 3.1 pc, it becomes clear why there are not enough doctors or nurses in the Hungarian healthcare system, and why those who work in the sector would like to go to foreign countries to receive more money for the responsibilities they take. This 3.1 pc means that the real income of the employees working in the sector decreased by 1 pc while, for example, even public workers received more for their work in Hungary.

1000 EUR/month for healthcare workers on average

Portfolio.hu added that it is also true that health care employees received a 20.1 pc pay raise in January 2018. Therefore, they got a thicker paycheck by February. Furthermore, it is also true that from July 2019,

a wage rise program is going to start,