Health care unions in Czechia declare strike readiness over pay dispute

Health care unions in Czechia have declared strike readiness in protest against the draft reimbursement decree for 2026. They are demanding a ten percent increase in salaries and wages across the health sector. Talks with the Health Ministry broke down on Tuesday after Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09) did not attend, citing a campaign event in Brno. The ministry says the decree, which sets payments from health insurers, is not yet final. Unions warn the proposal would be devastating for hospitals already short of more than 3,000 nurses, with another 15,000 expected to retire within five years.