European doctors call for action on health workforce, amid ongoing strike action in Slovenia

Slovenian doctors have stopped working overtime to call for previous agreements on salaries to be respected during the 10-week strike launched on 15 January.

The strike takes place as health professionals throughout Europe are experiencing untenable working conditions, excessive hours, and insufficient resources.

CPME President Dr Christiaan Keijzer said “We call for the Slovenian government to respect it’s previous promises. European doctors reaffirm that all doctors deserve decent and lawful working conditions, and we fully support our colleagues’ action.

“In Europe as a whole, the time has come for comprehensive, cross-border solutions that prioritise the health and resilience of the medical workforce, ensuring a sustainable and effective healthcare future for all.”

The two-day CPME General Assembly, hosted by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, will host discussions on a broad range of topics relating to European health policy, including our ongoing policy work as the European institutions wrap up their current mandate this Spring, and advancing our ambitions to continue building the European Health Union in the next mandate from 2024-2029. A central topic will be the independence of medical profession. The meeting will kick-off with a welcome address from Slovenian Minister of Health Dr Valentina Prevolnik Rupel.

Prof. Dr Bojana Beović, President of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, added “At the time when the medical profession is facing significant challenges in Slovenia and across Europe, it is an honour to host our colleagues to stand together as a single united voice for European doctors.

“Only adequate infrastructure and working conditions for all healthcare professionals can assure stable and patient orientated public health care system that could fulfil needs of aging population.”