Doctors have expressed their strong opposition over the “wrong message” they say was sent regarding their pay during the recent discussion of an auditor-general’s report on the state health services organisation (Okypy).
The doctors’ union (Pasyki) said in a statement that discussions on the content of the report had highlighted a “worrying effort” that aimed at citing doctors’ pay as “the main threat to the viability of the organisation”.
“This effort is linked in a very misleading way to the drop in the number of patients treated, giving the wrong picture over the real problems and challenges faced by Okypy,” Pasyki said.
Pasyki expressed its “strong opposition to the wrong conclusion and wrong message being conveyed”.
In an effort “to restore the true picture”, Pasyki posed a series of questions, such as why the drop in patients was presented as a number and not accompanied by an analysis of cases treated.
Also, it questioned whether the remuneration of doctors contained elements of misuse of public funds and if their pay had first gone through proper procedures.
Pasyki asked why no comparison was made between the pay of state and private doctors.
The union said doctors’ remuneration was compensation for their work, as provided for by law, regulations and agreements.
Pasyki further mentioned that during a recent strike, Okypy tried to communicate that doctors were being overpaid.
“For Pasyki, it is of vital importance to reexamine the manner in which the remuneration of doctors is presented, in order to prevent misleading impressions, while the viability of state hospitals is of equal vital importance, a parameter which is one of the responsibilities of the state,” it said.
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