Doctors, nurses schedule walkouts

Doctors and nurses nationwide are threatening a series of one-day strikes unless they receive pay increases and guarantees of budget increases from the government.

"The doctors' union has informed us about their upcoming strike, and they have submitted all appropriate documents," said Ainars Civcs, deputy director of the Welfare Ministry's health department.

Civcs has been appointed to head the negotiations with the doctors' and nurses' unions.

"They have a very basic demand, which is higher pay. But unfortunately we don't have the resources," he said.

There is already extra money given to hospitals for raising medical staff salaries, but according to Civcs it is being misused by the employers.

"Money distributed to hospitals for raising salaries for doctors and nurses is used for buying equipment. Employers think they are only supposed to pay the minimum wage and that's it," he said. "We are currently working on new regulations when it comes to funding medical staff."

Higher pay is not the only demand put forth by the doctors' union.

They also want 7 percent of Latvia's GDP spent on welfare measures, twice the 3.4 percent of GDP currently spent on them.

"We certainly agree that doctors should be paid more. We have enough doctors but most of them work in medical-related businesses where they can earn more money," Civcs said.

Medical education is one of the most expensive in Latvia. It is also one of the longest, but the average salary for people working in health-related fields is 130 lats ($210), well below the country's average wage.

The doctors' union has reported that its members will demand a pay increase for nurses, bringing their salaries to a minimum of 120 lats to 130 lats per month and doctors' wages to a minimum of 180 lats to 190 lats per month.

The nurses' union is also planning to strike. Last year they threatened to do the same, but a final-hour agreement was reached.

The strikes are set to take place June 20 followed by July 18 and then Sept. 18-20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. During these days no secondary medical care would be provided.

However, acute first aid will still be provided by hospitals throughout the country.