Prime ministerial spokesman Peter Szijjarto told reporters that the plan must ensure that no situation arises in Hungary like that in Slovakia last month when physicians resigned en masse. No patients must be left without medical services, he said.

The Slovak dispute ended in mid December when the government gave in to doctors’ salary demands. Doctors in Hungary are also threatening to strike over pay.

County health protection committees will be formed under the guidance of government officials, which will include the heads of county hospitals, state health administrators and the county chief medical officer.

The health state secretariat will hold more consultations with the health sector next week, Szijjarto said.

Magor Papp, head of the Hungarian Resident Doctors Federation, said 2,500 medical personnel had submitted letters of resignation dated December 31 that will take effect if salary demands are not met. He added that 1,184 doctors have received licences to work abroad this year and 1,111 last year.

Szijjarto was hopeful of progress in talks between the government and the health sector as the Health Insurance Fund’s finances are turning out to be better than expected."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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