Thousands of doctors promise to leave hospitals if pay is not increased

Meanwhile, more than 3000 physicians have signed a petition saying they will resign at the end of the year if the government will not ensure certain salary conditions. The “Děkujeme, odcházíme” [Thank You, We’re Leaving] campaign, organised by the Trade Union of Doctors, demands that the pay of hospital physicians equal 1.5 to three times the national average wage, reported as roughly 23,500 crowns. Support has varied from region to region, with as many as 80% in some hospitals having signed. The threat of a mass exodus if hospital physicians’ salaries were not increased was already on the table this spring; however a labour ministry proposal that would decrease the wages of new health care workers by more than 40% has exacerbated the situation.