The National Board of the All-Poland Trade Union of Nurses and Midwives, in a position paper dated August 5, expressed its deep concern about the lack of real action on the part of the government to improve working conditions for nurses and midwives in Poland. It stressed that the dialogue with the government is a sham, and the arrangements that were supposed to be put into practice have still not been implemented.
The July 30 meeting, attended by representatives of the Minister of Health and the National Health Fund, was intended to discuss the future of nursing and midwifery in Poland. However, instead of clear answers, union representatives received vague information on key issues such as employment norms, including in psychiatry. Concerns about revising and reducing current employment norms in favor of other health professions only add to the crisis that the nursing and midwifery community is already facing.
The OZPiP also draws attention to the failure to define the competencies of nurses and midwives, despite promises that a relevant document would be drafted within two months. In the context of the lack of implementation of the "Long-term State Policy for Nursing and Midwifery in Poland" and the findings of July 9, 2018, the environment is concerned that the government's actions are chaotic and marginalize the role of nurses and midwives.
The union notes that there have still been no answers to questions about flattening the wage gap between professional groups and the lack of progress on the introduction of a medical leave for nurses and midwives, despite public announcements and the fact that the average life expectancy of a nurse in Poland is only 62 years, which is well below the average life expectancy of women in the country.
The Board calls on the government, the Minister of Health, the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Republic of Poland to take immediate action that will accelerate real changes beneficial to public health care. Representatives of the union call for respect for the law and implementation of existing legislation, warning that inaction will lead to a further deepening of the crisis and serious social problems in the future.
Source: OZZPiP
