Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).
He called the situation in this area “critical”, noting that Sándor Pintér, the former interior minister also responsible for the health portfolio, insisted at the ministerial handover that there was not a single issue for which he or his colleagues should be ashamed, and in February this year, he claimed that all tasks assigned had been successfully resolved.
“The biggest problem is that he never measured, and was unable to measure, what he was taking on when he assumed responsibility for healthcare,” Hegedus said.
Next week, the ministry will coordinate with representatives of the independent healthcare trade union, and discussion will focus on the wage scale for skilled workers, he said.
Hegedűs cited an assessment submitted on Friday by the Hungarian Chamber of Doctors indicating a shortage of tens of thousands of skilled workers, with a scarcity of nurses exceeding 30,000.
The average age of skilled workers is 47.3 years, with 25,000 already over 58, so the deficit is on a expanding trajectory, he added. In some areas, he said, nurses work 220-240 hours per month rather than the standard 168-174 hours, which he called “systemic self-exploitation”.
Adult nursing, anaesthesiology and intensive care, surgical services, and laboratory diagnostics are critical areas, he said, adding that in intensive care, 1,079 of 1,609 specialist assistants are aged 46-60, while only 212 are aged 25-45.
Hegedűs said operating theaters faced a similar problem: even if there is a doctor, without enough surgical specialist assistants and properly trained staff, not only the safety of planned surgeries but also emergency interventions could be compromised.
This led to growing waiting lists and deteriorating patient care, he said. The situation was no better in outpatient care, the minister said, noting that out of 12,285 assistant positions, nearly two-thirds are over 45, and more than 2,000 are over 60.
“This is the legacy: an ageing workforce, mass shortages, overtime, burnout, deteriorating working conditions, growing waiting lists, and increasing patient safety risks,” he said.
Hungarian healthcare, he added, could not continue to rely on the self-sacrifice of skilled workers. What was needed, he said, were wage adjustments, genuine respect, and realistic minimum conditions.
“More skilled workers are needed at the bedside, in operating theatres, in intensive care, in specialist clinics, and in primary care,” he concluded.
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For over 30 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.
