The gap between the two employees’ salaries could then be just HUF 100,000. “This compression of the pay system is not motivating at all,” Balogh told Világgazdaság in an article published on 10 November.
The chamber is not opposing the pay rise itself. Balogh welcomed the prospect of an increase after more than two and a half years without one. The dispute centres on whether the new scale would adequately recognise qualifications, professional responsibility, experience and demanding shift patterns.
Nearly HUF 192 billion earmarked for the settlement
Of the additional HUF 510 billion announced for healthcare, almost HUF 192 billion would be allocated to the salary settlement. The proposal could affect 123,500 employees.
Basic salaries for healthcare professionals would rise by an average of 15 per cent. Ministry calculations suggest that, together with the effect of a reduction in personal income tax, average net income could increase by 17 per cent. The ministry says every employee covered by the scheme would receive a basic salary increase of at least 7.5 per cent.
The changes would apply to healthcare professionals working in primary care, outpatient specialist services and hospitals. Technical staff, maintenance workers, administrators and IT employees who keep healthcare institutions running would also be included.
Individual increases would be based on current basic pay, the qualifications required for the role and recognised professional experience. Employees at the lower end of the existing salary bands could receive increases of 30–35 per cent, with larger rises possible in some cases.
The ministry provided several examples. A nursing assistant with 40 years of experience could see their gross basic monthly salary rise from HUF 322,800 to HUF 540,200, an increase of 67.3 per cent. A nurse with ten years of experience on an internal medicine ward could move from HUF 500,000 to HUF 626,600. A physiotherapist with a master’s degree and 32 years of experience could receive a gross basic salary of HUF 1,061,500, up from HUF 900,000.
The chamber wants a multi-year career path
MESZK argues that the most highly qualified healthcare professionals, including those with university degrees, MSc qualifications or PhDs, should have their salaries aligned with the scale used for non-medical graduates performing healthcare work. It also wants stronger financial recognition for employees working continuous shift patterns.
The chamber has drawn particular attention to professionals in salary category E, who make up a substantial share of the healthcare workforce. It also plans to submit proposals on how additional payments should be distributed.
The ministry presented the 2027 proposal to professional and employee representative organisations on 6 November. Balogh said the meeting amounted to a briefing rather than a substantive consultation with experts. MESZK therefore views the current salary scale as a starting point and is asking for further talks before the rules are adopted.
The chamber is calling for a pay framework covering at least three years and extending across the healthcare sector. It says such a system should offer a transparent route for both professional and financial progression.
Health Minister Zsolt Hegedűs has said the proposal would make career progression more predictable and give greater weight to qualifications and years of service. The government intends the changes to make healthcare careers more attractive to young people and encourage experienced staff to remain in the sector. The planned salary settlement forms part of the Hugonnai Vilma Egészségügyi Program.
Source: Világgazdaság
