Czech hospitals may have to suspend elective surgeries in December

Hospitals around the country may have to suspend non-urgent, elective surgeries in December, doctors unions warned after talks with Health Ministry officials on higher salaries for doctors hit the rocks. The Czech Health Ministry's proposal to guarantee doctors' salaries not dropping below a certain level, instead of pay rises across the board in January 2024, has been rejected by doctors and trade unions. They say the ministry’s proposal would only increase the salaries of the lowest-paid physicians, moreover only those in state institutions. Further negotiations are scheduled for Monday. About 6,000 doctors out of 13,000 are refusing to sign overtime contracts as of December which would be a severe burden to the health system.