The Hungarian government has agreed to clear debts owed by hospitals, it has been revealed.
According to János Lázár, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, debts overdue by at least 30 days will be covered at a cost of 80 billion HUF and part of this amount will be used to set up a development fund for hospitals.
The government has also decided to raise the wages of social workers employed in healthcare to the level of those of healthcare workers.
Public workers are also set to be given pay hikes, but this is still subject to talks between the interior and economy ministries, he added.
He said the government projects a budget shortfall above 2 percent of GDP for this year. Lázár added that the government was also likely to raise its economic growth forecast for next year.