Romanian Health Minister Asks For 5,000 New Employees, PM Approves Only 1,000

Romanian Health Minister Cseke Attila asked the Government to unfreeze 5,000 jobs in the public healthcare system, but Prime Minister Emil Boc said that only one in seven vacancies, or 1,000 overall, can be unfrozen at the moment and any changes will have to be negotiated with the IMF.

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People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX that, in the Government meeting on Wednesday, the health minister read a report according to which the healthcare system requires 5,000 new employees with medical training.

They also said that the prime minister replied only one in seven jobs can be unfrozen at the moment, but should the Health Ministry's analyses find that more personnel is required, this would be a subject of negotiation in the next meeting with the International Monetary Fund this fall.

Cseke requested the Government unfreeze hiring for at least a few thousand crucial positions in the healthcare system after a fire at a Bucharest maternity ward on August 16 left five babies dead and six seriously injured.

Hiring in the sector was halted on January 1, 2009 and the number of employees has been on the decline since. Hospital managers have repeatedly warned that because of the staff shortage, medical assistants are unable to cope with the large number of people who need care.

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