By AZE.US
Azerbaijan has increased the salaries of 72,212 healthcare workers employed within the TƏBİB system, with the new rules taking effect on September 1.
TƏBİB Executive Director Anar Bayramov said the reform was initiated by First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva and approved for implementation by President Ilham Aliyev.
The measure covers 15,804 doctors, 36,041 mid-level medical workers and 20,367 junior medical staff. The annual healthcare wage fund will increase by 189 million manats, or approximately $111 million.
The largest increases are targeted at regional and shortage specialties. Monthly salaries for pediatric anesthesiologists and intensive-care specialists working in the regions will rise from 1,450 to 3,000 manats – about $1,765 – an increase of 107%.
Neonatologists will receive 2,400 manats instead of 1,450, while doctors specializing in hemodialysis will see their salaries increase to 2,250 manats.
In regions facing staff shortages, salaries for obstetricians-gynecologists, neurosurgeons, pediatric and cardiovascular surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons and traumatologists will rise from 1,450 to 2,150 manats.
A 1.3 coefficient will also apply to performance-based bonuses for shortage specialties outside Baku, Absheron, Sumgayit and Ganja.
The reform is designed to address one of Azerbaijan’s most persistent healthcare problems: the concentration of qualified specialists in the capital and the shortage of doctors in district hospitals.
The immediate challenge will be implementation. Higher salaries may make regional hospitals more attractive, but retaining specialists will also depend on working conditions, equipment, housing and professional development opportunities.
AZE.US