Czech healthcare workers secure major pay raise, concerns remain

The Czech Health Ministry has circulated a draft law to urgently reform the salaries of healthcare workers and doctors, in a move to address long-standing remuneration issues and doctors’ protests.

The proposed legislation, expected to come into effect in January 2025, promises a significant overhaul of the existing pay structure. According to the Czech Ministry, the new law will guarantee that hospital doctors earn between 1.5 to 3 times the average national wage.

This initiative follows commitments made in December 2023 in reaction to Czech doctors’ protests, aiming to unify and elevate the wages of medical professionals.

“(…) we sent a draft of the law on remuneration of health care workers to representatives of the medical chamber, health unions, hospitals, and other entities involved in the negotiations,” Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09, EPP) announced via social site X.

Válek also highlighted that this draft law is part of a broader effort to harmonise remuneration for healthcare workers, whether they are compensated through salaries or wages.

This measure is expected to provide a more secure financial footing for doctors, who have been vocal about their need for fair pay and reasonable working conditions.

The remuneration reform also includes an annual increase in minimum salaries or wages, alongside a 1% increment for each year of professional experience, ensuring that the financial growth of healthcare workers is aligned with their service longevity while rewarding dedication and expertise.

Concerns remain

Despite positive strides, the path to this reform has not been without contention.

The Czech Medical Chamber (ČLK) and healthcare unions have criticised the ministry for slow progress in fulfilling all the terms of last year’s agreement. While the salary increase is a step forward, other promised reforms, particularly those concerning medical education and working conditions, have lagged.

Over the years, excessive overtime has remained a critical issue, with many doctors working far beyond the recommended limits. Currently, some doctors report working up to 1,500 hours of overtime annually.

Last year’s protests, led by the Young Doctors’ Section of the Czech Medical Chamber, spotlighted these overtime challenges. These protests successfully prevented the proposed doubling of voluntary overtime hours, maintaining the cap at 416 hours per year.

Systemic changes needed

Jan Přada, vice president of the Czech Medical Chamber, has been vocal about the need for more substantial changes. He noted that while the proposed salary adjustments are welcome, they do not fully address the systemic issues within the healthcare sector.

“The legislative process that was promised to us has its hitches,” Přada said during last week’s press conference of Czech medical organisations.

“In recent weeks, the process has been lax and unnecessarily restrained,” he warned. The frequency of meetings between the Ministry and healthcare representatives has been criticised as insufficient, and the slow pace of legislative preparation has only added to the frustration. “The negotiating system needs to be intensified and made more constructive,” Přada added.

Without further action to meet doctors’ demands, additional protests could ensue, the Czech Medical Chamber warned. These potential protests could significantly impact the healthcare sector, adding pressure on political leaders to expedite the necessary reforms.

However, the Czech Health Ministry assures it is gradually implementing the agreement with doctors from December 2023. Minister Válek also promised further meetings with doctors’ representatives in the coming days and weeks, which should take the reforms a step further.

[By Aneta Zachová, Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab]

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