More than 1000 nurses and nurses gathered in Budapest today demanding better wages, in the wake of a survey showing that many of them are considering leaving Hungary in search of higher earnings in other countries, putting pressure on a healthcare system already facing staff shortages.
Wearing white T-shirts and holding white balloons, protesters gathered in central Budapest Square. Hundreds of them had come from other parts of the country and had traveled for hours to take part in the mobilization.
“There could be a huge wave of nursing staff resignations when travel restrictions due to the pandemic are lifted across Europe.”said Zoltan Balog, president of the Hungarian Chamber of Health Professionals.
About 400-500 nurses are leaving Hungary Every year, Balog explained, and according to an online survey conducted by the chamber last month, more than 1,000 nurses are considering leaving Hungary.
“We are among the professionals who always forget them, when salaries increase”says Impolia Pinter Gall, who has worked as a nurse for more than thirty years.
She has been caring for COVID-19 patients in an intensive care unit since March 2020. She had been promised a pay rise for her high-risk job, but has yet to receive anything.
The Chamber invited Human Resources Minister Miklos Kassler to protest. He did not attend, but sent a letter thanking the nursing staff for their work.
The main demand of nurses is an increase in their salary, in proportion to the recent increase in doctors’ salaries.
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