Patients to foot the bill for health service pay increases?

Hospital staff will get the money in October. However, this is insufficient to finance the 30% pay increase that the protesters demand before the end of the year. According to estimates, zl.3.7 billion is needed for the pay raises. The Ministry is willing to grant this sum, but not sooner than next year. "If the directors of the hospitals in Podkarpacie sign the agreement [with Ministry representatives], the protest may end on Friday", said Krzysztof Bukiel, president of the National Health Workers Union. Two days ago, the Health Minister declared that during the parliamentary debate on the health service on May 10 he wants to discuss new methods of financing the health service, such as introducing minor charges for visits to doctors. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) A.M.