AP: Polish doctors launch open-ended nationwide strike seeking pay raise

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/21/europe/EU-GEN-Poland-Health-Care-Strike.php

Polish doctors launch open-ended nationwide strike seeking pay raise
The Associated Press
Published: May 21, 2007


WARSAW, Poland: Polish doctors launched a nationwide open-ended strike on Monday, demanding a pay raise amid complaints that the national health system is underfunded and medical professionals are overworked.

More than 200 of the nation's roughly 600 state hospitals were providing only emergency services, said Krzysztof Bukiel, head of the All-Poland Doctors' Union. Another 100 hospitals were set to join the strike if a settlement was not reached quickly, he said.

Doctors are seeking a more than 100 percent increase to their monthly salaries, currently at about 1,300 zlotys (US$460; €350) for general doctors and 3,000 zlotys (US$1,080; €800) for specialists, Bukiel said.

Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski said the doctors' demands were unrealistic this year, adding that such a pay hike would cost an estimated 11 billion zlotys (US$3.9 billion; €2.9 billion) and would "break public finances." He said health care wages should increase starting next year.


FULL story at link.

[emilyg]

1. good

hope they get it.

[Rydz777]

2. I think the exchange rate of the zloty against the dollar is

slightly overstated - you're lucky to get 2.75 to the dollar - which means they get even less than the article suggests. I'm in Poland a lot, and I know the doctors are underpaid by the national health service, especially in comparison with what they can earn in other EU countries - where, in fact, many are going. However, I think a lot of doctors maintain private practices on the side and earn good incomes from that.