Skopje, 3 April 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Health Arben Taravari told a press conference on Thursday that the latest linear increase of Mden 2,500 for all employees in the public health sector is yet another big step forward. According to him, the total wage increase, together with the November increase, now stands at Mden 4,815 net for all healthcare workers, while for nurses the increase amounts to as much as Mden 6,200.  

"These numbers are not just statistics - they mean more security, greater motivation and well-deserved recognition for the hard work of thousands of doctors, nurses, technicians and administrative staff. The average wage in healthcare now stands at around Mden 50,200 - and this is more than just a number, it is a signal that we are seriously investing in human capital. The October increase of 10.49 percent combined with current measures brought a cumulative increase in wages of 17.18 percent. Given the fact that annual inflation is around 3.5 percent, real growth for 2024/25 is 9.4 percent. For comparison, in the period from 2021 to 2023 real growth in wages was only 3.8 percent," the Minister said. 

He pointed out that this is the highest real wage growth in public healthcare in the past decade and a proof that when there is political will, there are results.

"Our goal is to build a healthcare system in which professionals feel valued, motivated and ready to stay and work here, at home. With this increase, we send a message that the dignity of healthcare workers is not negotiable - it is defended and promoted. And this is just the beginning. The Ministry continues to work on systemic reforms aimed at improving working conditions, additional education and professional development, in order to ensure stability and quality in healthcare, as well as strengthen citizens' trust in public healthcare services. We continue with concrete steps, with a clear vision and with unwavering commitment to building the healthcare that our citizens deserve," Taravari stressed.

He believes that today a strong and clear message is being sent: "healthcare workers are the foundation of our healthcare - and the state stands behind them."

"The Ministry of Health, together with the Government and the unions, has been actively working in the past period on improving the status of healthcare workers, and these changes did not happen overnight," said Taravari. 

Photo: MIA archive