A joint handling of health treatment and providing social care mean that the resources of professional nurses are wasted, as many of the “chronic beds” serve the needs of “giving patients a bed and general care” only, Ónodi-Szűcs said.

The aim is to move these capacities out of the health-care system while keeping the funding level, he said. In Hungary the number of nurses per member of the population is a third of what it is in western Europe, he said. There are few students choosing to do a nursing degree, as there are no promises for their future career.

This is what needs to be changed, a scholarship system and wage hikes are necessary, Ónodi-Szűcs said, adding that first he has to see the 2017 budget.

“A long-term solution rather than a one-off salary hike is needed,” he added.

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