RIGA, Feb 8 (LETA) - The staff of Daugavpils Regional Hospital will have a negative attitude towards the abolition of Covid-19 supplements, because with the increase in the flow of patients, work will only accelerate and working conditions will deteriorate, Grigorijs Semjonovs, a member of the Board of SIA Daugavpils Regional Hospital, told LETA.

According to him, the working conditions of Daugavpils Regional Hospital have not changed for a long time due to the observance of epidemiological conditions, but new difficulties still appear, for example, in cases when patients do not have a basic diagnosis of Covid-19.

As a result, Semjonovs expects that nothing will change in the lives of staff - patients will still have to take Covid-19 tests, and internal safety regulations will have to be followed. The head of the hospital does not believe there will be a decrease in the flow of patients in the near future.

According to Semjonovs, the institution he heads may have to deal with the colleagues refraining from certain on-call duties after some time.

"Additional funding is one of the ways to motivate colleagues to take on extra workloads,'' he said.

According to the head of Daugavpils Hospital, the abolition of Covid-19 supplements will not have any immediate consequences in the short term. "It is not like if these bonuses are abolished, that everyone will suddenly be lining up atr the border to leave," Semjonovs said.

However, in the long run, he believes that the abolition of bonuses has the potential to leave a negative change in the sector.

"I don't see the long-term set of decisions that would lead to very positive changes and prospects, especially when it comes to new prospective doctors, because they are the resource that needs to be addressed. Those who work, they work. Those who remain are enthusiasts who are used to working like this, "said Semjonovs.

According to him, the main question is whether, in the current circumstances and under the current payment criteria, it will be possible for the state to address hospital staff, contrary to the promised annual supplement.

At the same time, the head of the hospital pointed out that it was necessary to assess the percentage of which a medics salary is made up of bonuses. "When it comes to the department that mainly works with Covid-19 patients, half of the salary makes up bonuses," Semjonovs said.

The head of the hospital said he was aware that the allowances would probably be lifted. However, he emphasizes that colleagues are already accustomed to their current salaries and that the transition period after their removal would be difficult.

Semjonovs proposes a solution for the abolition of the Covid-19 premium, which he calls a compromise. "If it is not possible to fulfill the 20 percent increase in salaries promised a few years ago, then perhaps we could leave the money that was allocated to the healthcare sector directly in the payroll during the pandemic and convert it into raising monthly rates and setting additional reimbursements," he said.

In his opinion, this is a political decision that will show whether health care is a primary sector of the state.