Hospitals across Romania entered an indefinite general strike on Tuesday, July 28, as healthcare workers protested against the proposed public-sector salary law, staff shortages and working conditions in the country’s medical system.
The strike, organised by the SANITAS Federation, affects more than 500 medical institutions. Hospitals continue to provide emergency treatment and essential medical services, but routine activity has been reduced, while consultations, scheduled admissions and non-urgent procedures may be postponed.
Elective Surgery Suspended at Timișoara Intensive Care Clinic
The Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Clinic at the Timișoara County Emergency Hospital announced that it would join the general strike beginning Wednesday, July 29.
Emergency surgical procedures will continue to be performed, but elective operations will be suspended for the duration of the strike. As intensive care and operating theatres are essential for most major surgical procedures, the decision is expected to affect several medical departments within the hospital.
Other hospitals have introduced similar restrictions, maintaining emergency departments, intensive care, dialysis, oncology, neonatology and other services that cannot be interrupted while reducing non-essential activity.
At the Pitești County Emergency Hospital, emergency services, intensive care, dialysis, oncology, neurology, neonatology and emergency operating theatres remain fully operational. At the Târgu Jiu County Emergency Hospital, emergency care continues, but some outpatient consultations are expected to be rescheduled.
Protests Reported Across Romania
Healthcare workers also organised protests at hospitals in Suceava, Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Bucharest.
More than 60 medical employees reportedly joined the strike at the “Sf. Ioan cel Nou” County Emergency Hospital in Suceava. The institution is operating at approximately one-third of its normal capacity, while emergency treatment continues to be provided.
Around 40 employees protested outside the Drobeta-Turnu Severin County Emergency Hospital on Tuesday morning. In Bucharest, some employees remained inside hospital departments because they could not leave their workplaces during working hours.
SANITAS Says the Strike Will Continue Indefinitely
SANITAS announced that the general strike would continue for an indefinite period unless the Government addresses the union’s demands.
The federation argues that the proposed salary law could reduce the earnings of some healthcare and social assistance employees while maintaining existing inequalities between professional categories.
Healthcare workers are demanding the preservation of bonuses paid for night shifts, weekends and public holidays, the elimination of potential salary reductions and direct negotiations with unions before a new salary law is adopted.
Union representatives have also raised concerns about chronic staff shortages, excessive workloads and professional exhaustion inside Romanian hospitals. They insist that the protest is not directed against patients and that essential medical assistance will continue throughout the strike.
SANITAS president Iulian Pope said healthcare workers were facing pressure and alleged attempts at intimidation but urged union members to remain united.
Health Minister Says Salaries Will Not Decrease
Interim Health Minister Cseke Attila responded that the unified salary law was not initiated by the Ministry of Health and said the ministry had received assurances that healthcare employees’ incomes would not decrease.
According to the minister, approximately 80% of employees could receive higher incomes, while the remaining 20% would be covered by a compensation mechanism intended to maintain their current earnings until 2031.
The assurances have not persuaded SANITAS to suspend the protest. The federation maintains that the current version of the proposed legislation does not adequately protect healthcare employees or address the staffing crisis affecting hospitals.
The nationwide strike follows a two-hour warning strike held on July 20, when hundreds of hospitals reduced their activity and provided only emergency treatment and approximately one-third of their usual services. Unions had warned that a full general strike would begin on July 28 unless an agreement was reached with the authorities.
