Skopje, 6 February 2024 (MIA) - Employees of the Health Insurance Fund continue their strike for the second consecutive day, expressing their discontent over the proposed cuts to their salaries.

As previously announced, most operations across all subsidiaries will be suspended, only essential services will be maintained.

Several services including, requests regarding rehabilitation, compensation for orthopedic aids, maternity benefits, sick leave claims, and requests for insurance abroad, specifically for bilingual forms will be limited. Medical commissions responsible for extending sick leaves will continue to function without interruption.

“The revolt among the employees is huge. Even those in other unions are joining the strike. Our only request is to preserve the salaries we received in December. We are not asking for anything more; we simply want our salaries to remain at the December level. The strike will continue, even at the expense of not getting paid, as is the case now. At present, the employees at the Health Insurance Fund are without salaries,” Trade Union of Administration, Judiciary and Citizens' Associations leader Trpe Deanoski said.

He calls upon the government to address their demand in today’s session, having already sent letter to the Caretaker PM Talat Xhaferi.

“As they reached a conclusion with the recommendation to the management board to reduce salaries, they have now reached a new conclusion with the recommendation to maintain the same point value, that is, Mden 77.16, until the end of this year. We initiated a proposal signed by all directors of subsidiaries, ensuring that all work tasks will be carried out, funds will remain in the payroll fund, and citizens can rest assured that there will be medicines and medical devices for everyone, as it is now,” Deanoski said.

He also noted that the Health Insurance Fund is an institution with the largest budget in the country, and, as he pointed out, it always has financial resources.

"There will be funds to keep these salaries for the employees, as we agreed with the management of the Health Insurance Fund," explained Deanoski, emphasizing that if salaries are reduced, "it can only be worse."

Health Insurance Fund Union president Branko Adzigogov stated that there have been no reported incidents or problems so far.

“Citizens are aware of the situation we are facing,” he noted.

“We have received support from all healthcare unions. Only necessary tasks will be carried out, such as registering a minor as a member in insurance, regulating insurance for hospitalized individuals, and providing emergency treatment abroad. I want to stress that the medical commissions responsible for extending sick leaves will continue to function without interruption. Our intention is not to push for legal action against those who are ill," Adzigogov said.

Adzigogov urged citizens not to go through the trouble of coming in for requests regarding rehabilitation, compensation for orthopedic aids, maternity benefits, sick leave claims, and requests for insurance abroad, specifically for bilingual forms.

He also stated that payments are not being processed for those with contracts with the Health Insurance Fund, which includes both public and a significant portion of private healthcare. Employment contracts in public health, transfers of contracts to public health, and cases requiring transformation of employment relationships by decision have all been halted.

“The services offered by the electronic Health Insurance Fund, linked to "My Appointment," continue to operate. Prescriptions can be issued, referrals can be obtained, and health services from our contracted entities are being received without any disruptions,” Adzigogov said.

"In public health, it is currently a period of calculations, including the budget and capitations. At the moment, nothing is in progress," replied Adzigogov when questioned about the salaries for public health employees.

The Independent Union of Employees in University Clinics, Centers, Clinical Hospitals, and other public health institutions in the country provides complete support for the strike of employees in the Health Insurance Fund, which began Monday, stated the president of this union, Predrag Serafimovski.

According to the Union, this decision will affect 831 Health Insurance Fund employees, 25 percent of employees will receive a wage below minimum, and another 25 percent will receive minimum wage.

Following the announcement of the strike by Health Insurance Fund employees, the Ministry of Finance stated in a press release that there are no plans to reduce their salaries; rather, efforts are being made to increase them again, which, as they stated, will have fiscal implications on the Fund's budget.

HIF wages increased several times during 2023, the Ministry added, first by Mden 2,100 (EUR 34) or seven percent in March, to align with the minimum wage, by 2.5 percent in January and 3.5 percent in August.

"The General Collective Agreement foresees a 10-percent raise for all public sector employees. The cumulative wage raise for HIF employees during 2023 was 25 percent. Additionally, employees exercised the right to a vacation bonus of Mden 10,000 (EUR 164). Due to fiscal implications on the Fund's budget, the Government recommended to HIF's Management Board that the adopted Decision to increase the value points should have a delayed effect in 2025, on the grounds that the 2024 budget will not provide enough funds for a salary increase. Securing funds would be possible through reallocation from other expenditures, which would mean that funds for medicine and health services for the citizens would have to be cut in order to increase wages,” said the Finance Ministry.

Photo: MIA archive