Romania's SANITAS Union Suspends Nationwide Healthcare Strike After Legislative Gains FAST-MOVING

Romania SANITAS healthcare strike wage law vacancy deblocking

A general strike launched by the SANITAS federation on 28 July 2026 in Romania’s public health and social‑care system lasted three days, involving roughly 500 hospitals that kept only emergency services running. The protest aimed at the proposed public‑sector wage law, which unions said would cut real incomes for many health‑care workers.

On 29 July the Chamber of Deputies adopted an amendment to the Health Law that allows the de‑blocking of more than 6,800 vacant health‑care posts within the approved budget. The adoption of the new wage‑law was also postponed, and a court ruling confirmed that the interim Bolojan government lacks the authority to promote the draft.

SANITAS announced the suspension of the strike, stressing that it is not a final closure and will be resumed if a new, “more correct, coherent and equitable” salary law is not negotiated with a legally empowered Parliament or government. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan denied that wages will fall and described the strike as driven by “disinformation”.

Entities: Bucharest · Chamber of Deputies of Romania · Federation SANITAS · Ilie Bolojan · Otinel Șandru · Romania · Romanian Government · Romanian Parliament · Romanian interim government · Romanian public‑sector wage law · SANITAS · Spitalul Județean de Urgență Târgu Jiu

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The strike protests a draft public‑employee wage law that would reduce real incomes for health‑care workers. (7ba74943-6497-4d33-9b19-701e00c43351)
[● 5 SOURCES] Only emergency care services remained operational in the affected hospitals during the strike. (Impact on health services)
[● 4 SOURCES] Nearly 500 public hospitals and tens of thousands of health‑care employees stopped work on July 30, 2026. (SANITAS strike participation)
[● 4 SOURCES] The strike entered its third day on July 30, 2026. (SANITAS strike timeline)
[● 2 SOURCES] The Romanian government approved a memorandum freeing more than 6,850 vacant health‑care posts, mostly nursing positions. (Government action)
[● 2 SOURCES] Union representatives held an eight‑hour consultation with experts from the World Bank, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health. (7ba74943-6497-4d33-9b19-701e00c43351)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Sanitas demands the removal of staffing caps in hospitals to alleviate workforce shortages. (68c1bdad-7a85-42a7-bec5-62dde6ebc648)
[● 3 SOURCES] Sanitas calculations indicate that even under the most favorable scenario, more than 40 % of health‑care workers would need compensation. (Union analysis)
[● 4 SOURCES] SANITAS announced the suspension of the general strike until a new wage‑law proposal is presented to Parliament or a legitimate government. (Union announcement)
[● 4 SOURCES] The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted an amendment to the Health Law on July 29 that unlocks more than 6,850 vacant health‑care posts. (Parliamentary action)
[● 2 SOURCES] Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said the strike is based on disinformation and asserted that the wage law will not decrease any income. (Government statement)
[● 3 SOURCES] SANITAS demands a new salary‑law project that is more correct, coherent and equitable for public‑sector employees. (belongs)