The Czech doctors’ union Wednesday said it was prepared to accept a new pay offer, as the government moved to ward off a mass walk-out in the health sector. Union leader Martin Engel told reporters the organisation was ready to agree to a two billion koruna (83 million euro, 110 million dollar) package. The final deal between the union and the centre-right government is due next week.
At the end of December, 3,800 of the Czech Republic’s 20,000 state-sector doctors handed in their notice in protest over low pay. Their resignations were due to come into force on March 1, and were expected to spark havoc in the Czech health service. The government, a proponent of fiscal rigour, said the pay deal hinged out the doctors halt their protest action.
Prague, Czech Republic, Feb 16, 2011 (AFP)
