Parliament obliged Minister of Health to address the shortage of nurses

The number of qualified nurses and midwives should be increased by at least 30% by 2030. This is provided for in a parliamentary resolution, adopted unanimously, which instructs the Minister of Health to propose a strategy with the necessary measures for discussion in the National Assembly within 60 days.

It should also include improving access to higher education and state-ordered places, state funding of student fees, dormitories and scholarships for nursing and midwifery students in the health care profession. The strategy also provides for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Science to organise information campaigns to raise the prеstige of the nursing and midwifery profession.

It also envisages joint information campaigns organised by the two ministries to promote the admission of nursing and midwifery students to higher medical schools and colleges. Further and special promotion of the acquisition of special knowledge and the status of paediatric nurse is also envisaged, as well as an amendment of the current legislation with a view to the right of the National Health Insurance Fund to directly finance medical institutions for health care professionals.

It is also proposed to ensure that the minimum basic salary for nurses should not be lower than the national average wage.