Health minister offers doctors compromise solution

Health Minister Leoš Heger on Friday offered doctors an additional 2 billion crowns for salary hikes this year if they withdraw their resignations and desist from further destabilizing protest actions. The extra money is to be acquired by scrapping 10 000 hospital beds which the minister says are not essentially needed. The head of the medical chamber Milan Kubek and the head of doctors trade unions Martin Engel have welcomed the offer but said they want guarantees that the money will be used as stated and that all doctors who have handed in their notice will be allowed to return. Some 3 800 doctors have handed in their notice over low salaries, with the resignations due to take effect on March 1st.