Sanitas strike paralyzes hospitals for second day; surgeries suspended

Hospitals across Romania's public system are functioning at reduced capacity for a second day as the Sanitas union strike continues. Only emergency services are being provided in most medical facilities, while scheduled surgeries and patient admissions have been suspended or delayed.

The core of the conflict lies in the proposed new salary law. Union leaders from Sanitas and Solidaritatea Sanitară express strong concerns that the legislation, particularly reforms to the bonus system, could lead to significant income reductions for healthcare professionals. Representatives from Solidaritatea Sanitară warn that some doctors and nurses might lose approximately 1,000 lei per month if the bill passes in its current form. Viorel Hușanu, president of Sanitas Bucharest, stated that a reduction in income is unacceptable and that healthcare workers cannot accept their salaries being frozen for the next five years.

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If you reduce the bonuses, incomes could decrease. That is the big problem. We cannot accept this – that our salaries be frozen for the next 5 years.

Despite assurances from interim Health Minister Cseke Attila that eliminated bonuses would be replaced, union leaders remain unconvinced. Beyond salary concerns, the unions are also highlighting a severe staff shortage in hospitals, exacerbated by a hiring freeze. They report that this deficit has led to a reduction in available beds in some departments, with hundreds of patients awaiting admission. The prolonged strike is particularly impacting patients with chronic illnesses and those scheduled for medical procedures, raising concerns about potential health consequences.

In parallel efforts, the government approved a memorandum to unblock nearly 7,000 positions in hospitals and ambulance services, primarily for nurses and auxiliary staff. However, the unions deem this insufficient, as the Ministry of Health had requested over 7,800 positions, and the actual staff deficit is estimated to exceed 19,000 employees. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has refuted the unions' claims, asserting that the new salary law will not result in reduced incomes for medical personnel. He apologized to patients for the inconvenience caused by the strike.

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I apologize to all patients for the discomfort they experienced today as a result of this strike. I assure them of my utmost respect for doctors, nurses, orderlies, and those who work hard.