Poland’s government plans to increase healthcare spending to six percent of GDP by 2024, speeding up earlier plans to reach that level of spending by 2025.

The decision comes after ongoing talks with a doctors’ union, which followed a hunger strike and intense protests last year.

The spending hike is to see doctors working in public healthcare receive between PLN 600 and 700 higher monthly wages.

The move aims to stop Polish doctors from emigrating.

The government also plans to do away with so-called opt-out contracts which allow doctors to waive their right to work a maximum of 48 hours each week, which was leading to physicians taking second jobs and, in some cases, working in excess of 80 hours weekly.

Last October, resident doctors held a nearly month-long hunger strike, demanding a healthcare spending hike to 6.8 percent of GDP by 2021, less red tape, shorter hospital waiting lists and better pay and conditions.

Resident doctors also wanted a pay rise to PLN 9,200 (EUR 2,200) gross each month, about double the national average gross wage, claiming that they earned some PLN 2,200-2,500 net, or about PLN 3,000 gross, and were working 80-100 hours each week.

The then-health minister's poor handling of the protest saw him replaced in a government reshuffle earlier this year.

Healthcare spending in 2018 is expected to exceed 4.7 percent of GDP, while the World Health Organisation recommends 6 percent. (vb)

Source: PAP, IAR