Rural localities have lame access to health services

The recently adopted law on the wage system in the public sector is not leading to qualitative changes, inclusively in medical sphere, because the annual increase of wages compensates only the inflation rate. The created mechanism does not take into consideration the increase of consumption prices and tariffs. The situation worsens as well because of the restraints on the process of including in the salary the payments for experience and activity risks. These are the findings announced at the meeting of the Republican Council of Trade Union ”Sanatatea” by its chairman Victor Benu. Even if expenditures for wages increased, this fact did not influence positively on solving social problems of employees of this area. The average wage in health sector is 1,130 lei and represents only 76% of the average salary in economy. About 70% of employees have a salary below the existence minimum -786 lei. Benu also noted that a big part of the population that is able to work, especially in rural regions, does not have access to health services, and the majority of institutions of this sector work with great difficulties, inclusively without running water line, sewerage system, and heating. About 70 primary rural institutions do not have telephone connection, 42 of them are seriously damaged and need to be replaced, 76 institutions need repairing, 42 rural health centers work without electrocardiograph, 32 without laboratory equipment and in the same situation are the medical services of Moldovan districts and towns. The medical equipment of primary institutions, excepting the one received from The Health Investment Fund of the World Bank, is worn-out 100%. Victor Benu mentioned that the Trade Union „Sanatatea” supports the proposals of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection regarding the medium-term Project of Expenses on health sector, but regrets the fact that the increase of the branch financing from state and local budgets is not supported yet by other social partners, including Ministry of Finance, fact that could intensify the crisis in health system.