St Francis Day 'rich' for doctors but the 10.5 mln will only arrive in two years' time

The serious salary issues that beset doctors and nurses and the very attractiveness of public employment for these professions have finally found a solution. In fact, on 23 September last, the Chamber of Deputies approved pdl A.C. 2231 on the 'Establishment of the National Day of Saint Francis of Assisi' to be celebrated on 4 October each year.

The text - which unified two separate bills (the other was A.C. 2097) - was approved with 247 votes in favour and 2 against, a clear sign that among the major issues that had been lying in Parliament for years, the feast of St Francis had found absolute priority (the proposal was presented on 6 February this year) and transversal agreement.

The obvious and good-natured irony of what has just been said is due to the fact that Article 2 of the text voted on reads that for the implementation of the law the expenditure of about 10.5 million is authorised, "of which 8,793,880 euro per year is destined for the National Health Service sector".
The wording is not the best because it could be understood that the funding is only for the employees of the sector and not for the managers who belong to the SSN 'area'. This amount, not exactly pennies, will be needed to pay all employees who will be on duty on 4 October from 1.1.2026 the specific allowances prescribed by the respective collective agreements. In the case of healthcare executives, Article 27, Paragraph 5 of the National Collective Labour Agreement of 23.1.2024 assumes € 100 for each festive on-call shift, while for employees in the sector, Article 106, Paragraph 4 of the National Collective Labour Agreement of 2.11.2022 provides for € 15.30 for a six-hour festive shift (not increased by the forthcoming contract). For the financial coverage of the increased burden, the law resorts to the reduction of the fund referred to in Article 1, paragraph 200, of Law 190/2014, i.e. the "Fund to meet unavoidable needs arising in the course of management".

It can be imagined with what great satisfaction the entry into force of the law will be received by the 24-hour shift workers, even if a little surprise is hidden between the lines: 4 October 2026 is a Sunday, so the 'enrichment' resulting from the feast of St Francis will have to wait until 2027. This is the reason why Article 2 specifies that 'the standard national health requirement to which the State contributes shall be increased by EUR 8,793,880 annually starting from the year 2027'. It all seems straightforward, but it is not so because when the rule is applied - that is, in two years - that amount will not be at all sufficient to remunerate the higher personnel costs, since the collective bargaining agreements for the three-year period 2025-2027 will have come into force, at least it is hoped, considering that for the health management the three-year period 2022-2024 is still up in the air.