Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the government plan on a new significant pay rise for the health system professionals and public sector employees in general at a meeting with doctors and nurses at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana.
Addressing the meeting, accompanied by the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu, PM Rama said that the government has drafted a two-stage pay rise for health workers starting this year and early next year.
“Our human resources and health professionals are our government’s top priority. As we have already demonstrated through deeds, you represent for us the backbone of the country’s health system as we continue efforts to deliver on our pledges and commitment to provide accessible and quality health care near the place of residence for every citizen all over the country. If we are to focus on financial assistance, one should note that the health personnel salaries have been increased by 63 % since we took office. We have promised and we are committed to deliver on our pledges and keep boosting support for doctors and nurses,” the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said.
On his part, PM Rama noted that after a recent monthly pay increase by 50,000 lek for doctors, a decision due to enter into force now, the government will also deliver on its pledge for a 7% pay rise for general practitioners and nurses.
You are definitely aware of the government’s ambitious plan on a significant increase of the monthly wages for the public sector workers. It is indeed the record high increase in wages, but it also represent the increase rate we have been endeavoring, working hard and have patiently withstanding all sorts of allegations, because this is not just a matter of wish, but it is a matter of the opportunities, whether you can really afford doing so, because in order for us to make a decision to increase wages, the opportunities for such a move should be created first. The opportunities can be increased through hard work and a lot of efforts and the opportunities can be created when economy feels a breath of fresh air and the pay rise is definitely the direct reflection of a stable and sustainable growth of economy that has successfully withstood the strong blow that you know best, because it were you the first ones to provide your precious contribution by being on the front line to confront the pandemic. We have announced a high pay rise by a monthly extra payment of 50, 000 lek for the specialist doctors, due to enter into force now and, on the other hand, we will deliver on our pledge to approve a 7% pay increase for all health workers and professionals, and this decision will enter into force immediately for general practitioners and nurses.
Under this decision, the monthly salary of the general practitioners will be increased by 59,000 lek and will total to 111,672 lek. Likewise, the nurses’ wage will jump to 72, 118 lek. However, this is just an initial step, because a second pay rise will be announced ahead of next April.
The specialist physicians will hopefully not ask for a higher pay rise for the time being, as the specialist doctors at the University Hospital Centre now receive a monthly wage of 174,000 lek, whereas the monthly salary for general practitioners will edge up to 131, 672 lek, and for the nurses will go up to 87, 118 lek.
With the new pay rise, the wage level in the country will be the highest in the region and nobody can now, even the young people who want more, although they have done less than everyone else, but time is ripe for this decision to be made. The pay level will no longer be higher in other countries in the region and it is our ambition that the average monthly wage in Albania will reach around 900 euros.
It is definitely necessary that better working conditions are created for you not to simply report at the workplace and not to merely ask for a better and higher salary, but also feel good at the place of work and I am convinced that with the investment project on this maternity hospital, a legend of the Albanian medicine, the working conditions here will be perfect one. This is all I had to say.
Another extra element for doctors only is that under the hospital autonomy we have already started piloting and that will expand to include all public hospitals in the next two or three years, doctors will be provided the opportunity to earn extra payment based on their performance. Thank you for the great work and patience,” Prime Minister said.
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PM Rama and the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu then inspected the ongoing work on construction of the new Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital, a process nearing completion, and will pave the way to investment in the central building, which is undergoing a restoration process that preserves authenticity of the historical building and ensure care and decent health care service for young mothers and newborns.