Over 5% of jobs unfilled in health-care sector, says KSH - Világgazdaság

 

Over 5% of jobs are unfilled in Hungary's health-care sector, business daily Világgazdaság said on Friday, citing data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

The sector employs some 42,000 doctors and 104,000 nurses, with 3.8% of doctor and 3.4%of nurse positions vacant, the paper said.

 

The biggest shortage is in the area of in-patient hospital care, with a 6.2%shortage of doctors and a 5% shortage of nurses and assistants.

 

A survey by the Hungarian Chamber of Health-care Workers (MESZK), however, found that worker shortage was actually 2-3 times higher.

 

“The biggest worker shortages are in central and western Hungary,” MESZK chairman Zoltán Balogh said, commenting on KSH’s data.

 

In the 2018 survey, head nurses reported a 15-20% worker shortage, with most respondents saying the situation could become critical within five years.

 

Balogh attributed the shortages to low wages, pointing out, however, a recent positive trend in wage growth within the sector.