Cuba ratified today the priority given to Public Health and Education by approving salary incentives that will benefit almost one million workers in both sectors, government sources said today.
During a televised appearance on the news program Mesa Redonda, the heads and executives of these ministries, and of the Ministry of Finance and Prices (MFP), explained the government's measures to increase income and improve services to these personnel.
According to MFP Vice-Minister Maritza Cruz, these two major social areas, which are genuine achievements of the Revolution, account for 46 percent of the total expenditure of the budgeted activity.
These sectors, together with social assistance and social security, as well as culture and sports, will account for 63 percent of that spending, Cruz explained.
He pointed out that health and education have always been paramount in the Cuban budget, since "public health receives 60 billion pesos, and education 55 billion pesos".
Also present at Thursday's Round Table were the Ministers of Education and Higher Education, Naima Barreto and Walter Baluja, respectively; the deputy head of the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap), Luís Fernando Navarro, and the top union leaders of both unions.
Navarro informed that the Minsap groups more than 409,000 workers, of which 279,429 are professionals, including university graduates, higher and middle level technicians, in addition to 130,000 administrative, operative and service workers.
The Deputy Minister focused his speech on four measures that directly affect the income of these workers and which will be applied as from January 1, 2024. Another 18 decisions will gradually come into force, he said.
He explained that the first measure establishes the additional monthly payment for years of service for physicians, stomatologists, nursing personnel, psychologists, technologists, graduates and technicians who perform specific functions, specific to the health activity.
He acknowledged that there is an important group of health professionals with more than 30 years of service who are still active and "it is only fair that they are recognized for the effort they have made almost all their lives after graduating".
Likewise, the workers of the universities of Medical Sciences will receive payment for years of service, in accordance with the provisions of the higher education system.
Other decisions include an increase in the hourly rate (pesos per hour) for physicians, stomatologists, nursing personnel and technologists.
He also mentioned the additional payment for special working conditions for physicians, stomatologists, nursing personnel, psychologists, technologists, pharmacists and other professionals and technicians.