Government Approves LOZ Social Reconciliation Agreement in Health-care Sector

Bratislava, December 20 (TASR) - The government approved an agreement with the Medical Trade Union Association (LOZ) at its meeting on Friday aimed at establishing social reconciliation in the health-care sector, committing itself to meeting several of the union’s demands while agreeing to further negotiations on disputed points, with LOZ supposed to ensure that doctors withdraw their resignation notices after the agreement is signed. The agreement will be signed by Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) and head of the Medical Trade Union (LOZ) Peter Visolajsky. In the agreement, the government has committed itself to making sure that hospital doctors will receive salary increases in line with the original plan before consolidation. This will be provided by an amendment which should be submitted by the government to the House via a fast-tracked legislative procedure. According to the agreement, Parliament has until the end of February to approve the changes. The agreement also includes points on changes to the financing system for health-care facilities and measures to increase the number of doctors, nurses and midwives. The points also deal with enabling medical faculties to produce more high-quality Slovak doctors. In addition, the agreement covers demands related to a reform of education. lin/df