Health Minister Alexandrou Rafila says a “fair and realistic approach” is needed to raise wages in the health care system, but these increases must be balanced so as not to widen the gap between workers.

Alexandru Rafila said on Digi24 on Sunday that salary increases in education were more consistent than in the medical field, and he believes that the protests of health workers are justified, News.ro reports.

“We recently met with representatives of Sanitas and Solidaritatea Sanităra. There are protests that, in my opinion, are justified. There are large discrepancies in the payment of health care. In education, salary increases were more consistent than in the health care system. I don’t necessarily mean doctors, and I wouldn’t want the whole discussion to be about doctors, who really have some of the highest incomes in Romania. Health workers are underpaid, TESA staff and support staff are underpaid. A solution must be found,” said Minister Alexandru Rafila.

He explained that salaries in the medical field have already increased by 5% since this year, and options for another increase – by 15% are being sought.

“You know very well that all salaries have been increased by 5%, and in addition, they are trying to find another 15% increase, which will significantly increase salaries in the health care system, but which will not be uniform. That is, we do not give 20% to a doctor who has, say, 15,000 lei, and 15% to a paramedic who has 4,000 lei. Then you do nothing but widen the gap between these categories. We need a balanced increase that reduces the gaps,” said Alexandrou Rafila.

The Minister of Health noted that there are other demands of the trade unions and hopes for their understanding.

“Let’s not forget that we are in a situation of economic crisis. Keeping the budget deficit within certain limits imposes certain restrictions on wages. But if there is an honest and realistic approach, then we increase salaries by a percentage, but not so much as to reduce these gaps,” Rafila added.

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