Polish officials estimated the country's hospitals and clinics are some 7,000 physicians short of the number needed by the state-run healthcare program.

Doctors' union officials, however, claim the country needs twice that number of physicians, Polish Radio said Monday. Since Poland became member of the European Union in 2004 thousands of people, doctors included, have left for Western countries and better-paying jobs.

Polish doctors and nurses in state-run facilities have been on intermittent strikes for 18 months, demanding salary raises ranging from 30-100 percent. The strikes brought very little wage raises, with the government arguing there wasn't enough money in the state budget.

Young doctors make $430 per month in Poland. The unions demanded salaries of $1,800 a month, which is the double national average salary in Poland.

The situation is expected to become more dire in January when, under EU norms, doctors won't be allowed to exceed regular working and overtime hours. Polish doctors currently work at least two times longer than EU standards foresee, the radio report said.  // Copyright 2007 by United Press International



Publication date: 26 November 2007   

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