More than PLN 18 billion from the budget of the National Health Fund (NFZ) will be used to increase minimum wages in health care. By the end of 2022, around PLN 350 million more will be received by hospitals.

According to the amendment to the Act on the manner of determining the lowest basic remuneration of certain employees employed in medical entities, the guaranteed lowest salaries will increase from 17 to 41%.

“We have decided to intervene in order to help hospitals in a difficult period of transition”, said Bernard Wasko, deputy president of the NFZ for medical affairs, during a press conference.

Branches of the National Health Fund have already prepared and sent to hospitals annexes taking into account the increase in valuations of services.

“We have already signed 80 % of the annexes to the contracts of hospitals in the Basic Healthcare System (PSZ) network. In the case of district hospitals, it is about 70 %. In eight voivodeships all hospital annexes have already been signed or the process is being finalised,” said Bernard Waśko.

According to the calculations of the TVP INFO station, increases in the lowest basic remuneration will amount to PLN 2009 for first-degree specialist doctors (an increase from PLN 6201 to PLN 8210), and PLN 1441 for second-degree specialist doctors (an increase from PLN 6769 to PLN 8210). The lowest basic remuneration for medical careers and medical technicians with secondary education will increase by PLN 1097 (an increase from PLN 3772 to PLN 4870).

The lowest basic salary of paramedics and nurses with secondary education is to increase by PLN 1550 (an increase from PLN 3772 to PLN 5323), masters of nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacists and laboratory diagnosticians with specialisation by PLN 1827 (an increase from PLN 5478 to PLN 7304).

Adrian Andrzejewski