2024-08-07 10:00:11
“There is no big problem if this initiative, at least at this stage, remains in the Ministry of Health (SAM). The need comes from the workers, in coordination with the works council, to motivate people to have the full package. When attracting competences to the ministry, this can be used as one of the tools”, A. Pečkauskas said to journalists on Tuesday.
“When we talk about attracting competences to the workplace, especially in the public sector, it’s part of a really motivational package. We do not plan to terminate the contracts at this stage. When the next political cycle comes, they will apparently be able to make those decisions,” he added.
Although A. Pečkauskas, who has held the position of deputy minister until now, assures that he himself has not used the option of additional health insurance, he emphasizes that ensuring this social guarantee is an emerging practice in the public sector.
“I didn’t take advantage, I didn’t have such a need. Such practice is taking shape in the public sector. This is not a private insurance, it is more of an additional insurance that is not compensated from the funds of the compulsory health insurance fund. We are talking about compensating some medicines, possibly over-the-counter supplements,” said A. Pečkauskas.
As previously announced, the news portal delfi.lt reported that SAM bought additional health insurance for all employees at the end of last year.
The maximum price of the contract with the insurance company “BTA Baltic Insurance Company” is 88 thousand. euros. Portal “Alfa” reported on this purchase.
SAM representatives told the portal delfi.lt that additional health insurance is a means of encouraging employees in order to attract good employees.
However, political opponents wonder why the institution responsible for the supervision of the health care system provides its employees with additional health insurance. In addition, according to some critics, such a decision by the heads of the ministry shows a lack of confidence in the reforms they are implementing themselves.
At the beginning of the year, ELTA announced that additional health insurance is provided to its employees by a total of 5 out of 14 ministries – Environment, Health Protection, Justice, Communications and Economy and Innovation. The maximum amount compensated for ministry employees is 2,000 euros. However, insurance usually costs the institution about 400 euros per employee per year.
2024-08-07 10:00:11