Romania health strike persists; government unlocks 6,850 medical positions

SANITAS strike Romania health system salary law protest government hiring plan medical staff vacancies

The SANITAS union launched a general strike on 28 July 2026 across Romania's public health system to protest a proposed salary law that would cap overtime and weekend bonuses for health‑care workers. More than 400 hospitals joined, reducing outpatient services while maintaining emergency care; some counties such as Hunedoara and Bistrița‑Năsăud did not participate because of insufficient staff.

On the same day the government approved a memorandum to fill roughly 6,850 vacant health‑care posts – 2,593 assistants, 2,567 medical auxiliaries, 1,433.75 doctors and 257 pharmacists/technicians – aiming to balance human resources and keep medical services running. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan apologized to patients for the inconvenience and blamed misinformation from the unions, while interim Health Minister Attila Cseke presented the hiring plan as essential for continuity of care.

Technical talks with the Ministry of Health on the following day yielded no decisions, so the strike continued into Wednesday and its duration remains uncertain. Some hospitals, like the Brașov County Hospital, reported normal operation for emergencies and scheduled care, whereas many others operate at about one‑third capacity. SANITAS calls for dialogue and for the formation of a government with full powers to resolve the dispute.

Entities

Alexandru Rogobete · Attila Cseke · Cseke Attila · Federatia SANITAS · Federation SANITAS · Ilie Bolojan · Interim Government of Romania · Iulian Pope · Ministry of Health (Romania) · Monica Pop · Radu Burnete · Romania

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Sanitas met with presidential adviser Radu Burnete and the interim ministers of Labour and Health on 27 July. rasunetul.ro · www.economica.net
[● 9 SOURCES] During the strike, medical staff will treat only emergency cases rasunetul.ro · opiniabuzau.ro · www.mediafax.ro · stiriletransilvaniei.eu · www.radiocluj.ro · +3 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Sanitas says the interim government delayed the salary‑law project and only invited dialogue after a court decision. rasunetul.ro · www.economica.net
[● 12 SOURCES] The strike involves about 400 health facilities across Romania opiniabuzau.ro · rasunetul.ro · www.mediafax.ro · gddhd.ro · stiriletransilvaniei.eu · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Sanitas federation will start a general health sector strike on 28 July. rasunetul.ro · www.economica.net · opiniabuzau.ro
[● 4 SOURCES] Sanitas accuses the interim government of ignoring social dialogue and pressuring hospital staff. rasunetul.ro · www.economica.net · psnews.ro
[● 7 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health ordered public‑health directorates to monitor hospitals and report incidents that could affect patient care www.campusbuzau.ro · stiriletransilvaniei.eu · epitesti.ro · www.bucurestifm.ro · rasunetul.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] The ministry proposed increasing the emergency‑duty bonus from 20 % to 30 % and a pilot performance‑based pay scheme. ipn.md
[● 6 SOURCES] The allocation includes 2 593 positions for medical assistants, 2 567 for medical auxiliary staff, 1 433.75 for doctors, and 257 for pharmacists, biologists, biochemists and physicists www.espress.ro · ziardesuceava.ro · ziaruldesalaj.ro · jurnalul.ro
[● 6 SOURCES] The allocation includes 6 452 positions for hospitals funded by the National Unified Health Insurance Fund and 398.75 positions for county ambulance services www.espress.ro · ziardesuceava.ro · ziaruldesalaj.ro · jurnalul.ro
[● 6 SOURCES] The decision allows hospitals and ambulance services to start recruitment procedures immediately. www.espress.ro · ziardesuceava.ro · ziaruldesalaj.ro · jurnalul.ro
[● 6 SOURCES] 398.75 positions are allocated to county ambulance services. www.espress.ro · ziardesuceava.ro · ziaruldesalaj.ro · jurnalul.ro