“This is a very unpopular decision but thank you to the staff who came forward. Nearly 70% of the employees affected by this decision came forward and signed written agreements to move the pay share to January,” the new head of Daugavpils hospital Inta Vaivode noted.
How many such employees exactly there are, she did not reveal, but estimates the hospital cannot cover €400 thousand this year, which would be partly covered by this salary delay. After the new year, the hospital hopes to receive an advance from the National Health Service. Discussions are also expected with them on Tuesday, December 19.
'Without debt to workers, of course, we have a huge list of creditors. We are living at the expense of their patience right now,” the hospital manager said.
The hospital owes about €6 million to suppliers. The new hospital board, which succeeded former head Grigorijs Semjonovs in October, has investigated that debts began piling up in February this year. There needs to be an audit, but it also lacks money. The hospital has asked the State Audit Office, which has refused to do so.
In late August, Daugavpils City Council issued a call for the state to take over the capital of the hospital. In adopting next year's budget, Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity) said that this could indeed happen.
Grigorijs Semjonovs, head of Daugavpils Regional Hospital, submitted his resignation in early October, explaining his decision with fatigue and stressing that at least currently he does not want to take the lead of another hospital.
The hospital raised the alarm about a lack of money in early September but even earlier in the year, Semjonovs first warned of an imminent bankruptcy.
