LOZ: First Meetings of Working Groups over Situation in Sector be Held Next Week

Bratislava, November 14 (TASR) - First meetings of working groups to deal with the current situation in the health sector should take place next week, said the Doctors Trade Union (LOZ) head Peter Visolajsky following the talks with Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) on Thursday. An agreement with the government hasn't yet been reached, with doctors insisting on their resignation notices. "We agreed that the next meetings of the working groups will be held on Monday and Tuesday (November 18 and 19), so we will prepare for them," said Visolajsky. At their Thursday meeting, the trade union discussed the next points of the memorandum regarding education at medical faculties with the minister. "We disagree with the constantly increasing number of foreign students at Slovak medical faculties," stated Visolajsky, adding that it reduces quality. He said that the capacity of medical faculties has been exhausted and therefore, it's impossible to pay enough attention to Slovak students. They also spoke about compliance with the Labour Code and personnel regulations in hospitals. Visolajsky praised Sasko for being willing to negotiate with the LOZ, however, he called for talks at the level of the government. He expects the minister to fulfil the promises he gave to doctors' trade unions. More than 3,300 doctors in hospitals across Slovakia have already filed resignation notices in a show of unhappiness with the situation prevailing in health care. The doctors are also considering submitting overtime work notices. They are willing to withdraw them if the government starts meeting their demands. They chiefly insist on fulfilling the points of the memorandum from 2022, signed between the then government and the LOZ. ko/mcs