Doctors are attracted to the province of Lithuania with impressive amounts: the benefits are higher than in Switzerland

The need for specialists was determined by several reasons

The need to attract doctors to the Akmenė district arose for several reasons. One of them is the elderly doctors who work in the district. Most of the doctors working in Akmenė district are 65 years or older. There are seventeen of them. There are fifteen doctors between the ages of 55 and 64. And for the youngest, only 3-5.

“The fact is that today in Akmenė district all family doctors, except those who worked in various rural outpatient clinics, were of retirement age and, unsurprisingly, they all left our polyclinic and went to a private center just recently. settled down. I don’t know how they were seduced, but our outpatient clinic ran out of doctors.

We have reached a crisis point where there is a great need for three family doctors, at least two people who work in the Therapy Department of the hospital who could also work as family doctors, as well as a pediatrician who could also work in the hospital, because we managed to maintain our Children’s Department Delfi was appointed by Vitalijus Mitrofanovas, mayor of Akmenė district.

The mayor added that not only the Akmenė district primary health care center, but also the Naujoji Akmenė hospital need specialists.

Although doctors from certain specialties may be visiting what is still in the Akmen distrito district, the mayor wants the family doctor to work full time.

The need for doctors in the municipality is also growing due to population growth. UAB Vakarų medienos grupė is already requesting the municipality to allocate land in Naujoji Akmenė for the construction of approximately 400 new apartments. These floors would be for employees of the company’s companies located in the FEZ, most of whom will be young families. It is especially important for these people that the municipality does not lack the necessary specialists.

A smaller amount solved the problem only partially

The municipality tried to address the physician shortage in a number of ways. Initially, it was proposed that the doctors settle for 15,000 euros or an apartment.

“It just came to our knowledge then. Maybe we had five: one of the Ukrainian families, where they chose the apartment, also came, they received 30 thousand in both,” recalled V. Mitrofanov.

However, this did not completely solve the problem.

A few months ago, the municipality adopted a program that supports doctors who come to the district to work if they sign a contract that commits them to work full time in the district for 5 years.

“The previous program tied one person to work for us for five years. But knowing that young people want to be more mobile, they want to give it a try; maybe they don’t like it, we decided to make it easier by giving 10,000 a year, no matter how much you work. It was like an arrival bonuses, which could be used to settle in: renting an apartment, etc.

We foresaw the possibility of such cousin pay up to 5 years. But it didn’t work out much – maybe you didn’t pay attention to it? Although we try to advertise even in Druskininkai, knowing that today there is a crisis in many institutions without tourists ”, recalled the mayor.

The profit increased to 60 thousand euros

Therefore, the program has been modified again, increasing the benefit to 60 thousand euros, if the doctor agrees to come for five years and acquires a property in the area, declares residence here and stays in residence.

There are other options available. For those who do not want a five-year contract, there is an option of 10,000 euros per year for installation allowances. These bonds would be paid for up to five years.

The municipality also offers the option of reimbursing transport costs for those who would stay in another municipality up to 60 km away but would work in Akmen district, or would pay up to 150 euros per month for travel expenses, or would reimburse the same amount for the rental of the house.

“Currently, the apartment rental market in Akmenė District Municipality has changed. If in the past landlords used to accept tenants only for the payment of utility bills, now they ask for and pay a rent of up to 200 euros.

The rental price of a two-room apartment in Akmenė currently starts at between 100 and 150 euros per month, and the record is even 430 euros, ”said V. Mitrofanov.

The mayor did not hide: if a family of doctors came to the district to work, both would receive 60 thousand euros each, so in total, there are already 120 thousand.

Favorable conditions are also offered to resident doctors who have decided to come to work in Akmenė district. They are promised to pay 35 thousand to cover the cost of residency studies and an additional 25 thousand euros for the establishment.

Competing incoming doctors also receive a competitive salary of € 2,000-3,000 per position. But the salary is not subsidized from the budget. Its size is a matter of agreement between the institution and the physician.

The new order went into effect immediately.

The decision made at the Akmenė District Municipality Council meeting to change the procedure for the payment of benefits to incoming doctors took effect immediately.

“Today we have almost specific agreements with two family doctors, young enough: one is in his 40s, the other has nothing. Accompanied by families – five children through both doctors.

That program is not unlimited. It’s just to lure in the missing doctors and that shortage could end as soon as tomorrow. Who will be the first, will win, “said V. Mitrofanov.

One doctor who already wants to move to Akmenė is from Vilnius, the other is from Panevėžys county.

“I already joked that probably all the doctors in Šiauliai county and, in general, in Lithuania as a whole, would have 5 percent for Akmenė district to increase their salaries. cousin to transfer, – laughed the mayor. – Already now the doctors of our municipality are writing messages from doctors of other municipalities: “What are you here in Akmene, you stab?

I understand that when the GP comes to his employer and says: “I am going to Akmenė”, the employer will tell him: “No, it is better to take 4 thousand euros, but stay”. I know that in some places they already pay that money to family doctors. “

“We became like Switzerland”

The mayor recalled an article about how in Switzerland, the municipality, in an effort to attract specialists, allocated 50 thousand each to compensate for their establishment. euros.

Kristina Paulikė, then an advisor to the Minister of Social Security and Labor, wrote: “And where are our municipalities? Why don’t they do that? “

I read that article. There were some “buts”. Yes, the municipality gives 50 thousand, but with the condition that if the value of your property is more than 200 thousand, it compensates you only 25 percent. You must declare your place of residence and property. Everything is backed by taxes: real estate, personal income.

Then I wrote a comment: “We are not Switzerland, but we are giving 30 thousand”. But now, I feel like we’ve become Swiss too, we’ve even moved somewhere. Of course, here we are only talking about doctors ”, commented the mayor.

It was also criticized

It is true that the tempting proposal of the Akmenė District Municipality was also outraged.

“It just came to our attention then. Our program has been denounced by a government representative, the Competition Council, that we are restricting competition, that we are being unfair to the private sector.

Another movement has begun, which is very sad that it is going, to think about how to keep the old doctors. Why do you offer mountains to young people? Old people need something too bonuses.

I really respect the old doctors who work and gave their lives for Akmenė district, but the intention is that when they came here, they got apartments with us. In our country, even some houses are still called “doctors houses”, although perhaps only 10%. their population and now continue to work in medical facilities. These houses for doctors were built in the municipal centers of each district and apartments were given to the doctors.

I really do not want generations to fight, but as a person who came with two children, to buy a property in Akmenė, where the price of plain bottles without furniture starts from 20 thousand euros, and for a renovated house – from 30 thousand euros . and more? The record price for a three-room apartment in half with an attic was 50 thousand. euros.

The price of self-built old houses also starts from 120 thousand. “V. Mitrofanov pointed out.

The mayor emphasized that the new doctors will not receive the additional benefit to their salary, but to have a place to stay. And for the private sector, the mayor offers to do the same: if you need doctors, let them buy them apartments.

“In this case, we take care of our public institutions, which are not for-profit organizations, but must provide adequate and high-quality services. People are needed, ”said the mayor.

Use the pollution tax

Part of the amount to attract doctors to the Akmenė district will be covered by the pollution tax collected by the municipality.

By law, 20 percent. the funds should be channeled by the biggest municipal polluters towards health promotion programs. Akmenės cementas is one of the largest companies of its kind in Akmenė district.

In this way, the municipality accumulates about 200 thousand euros a year, which is intended to be used to recruit doctors.