Hungarian healthcare on the verge of collapse
On the 6th of October, the Parliament accepted a new legislation saying that starting from January healthcare workers can be transferred to other institutions for up to two years and they have to choose whether they would like to work in the public or the private system. In case they want to have a secondary job, they need to ask for permission.
More than 5000 sanitary workers have already informed the Labor Union of Hungarian Doctors about their aim to leave their career and not to sign their new contracts about their renewed working conditions – says the TV channel RTL. According to them the Medical Association also received around 5000 declarations about quitting. The Labor Union is continuously receiving feedback that a lot of healthcare workers don’t even want to wait until January but leave immediately.
Tóth Judit, the vice-president of the Labor Union, in a report airing on Sunday, said that even just the loss of 5-10 people is a disaster, let alone that of 5000.
“There are no reserves in the system, technically every single professional will be missed. If 5 or 10 people leave that could already lead to a disaster but in case of a mass renunciation the healthcare system will technically collapse.” – said the vice-president adding that leaving their jobs is not the aim of health care workers; they want to work.
“Healthcare workers do want to concentrate on the fight against COVID, they don’t wish to deal with the interpretation of labour laws and the communication with lawyers.”
Many healthcare workers have expressed their decision on social media; several of them have been working in the field for over 20 years.
Zacher Gábor toxicologist and emergency physician was also asked concerning the issue.
“I am not sure if a pandemic situation is the best time to take any decision either from the side of the government or the side of any medical provider. I think we should postpone it.“
The Ministry has commented concerning the mass renunciations that they don’t fear it and that they are ready to make modifications.
Source: RTL KLUB
What is meant by ‘sanitary workers’? Hospital cleaners?