Support for employees in the health care system in the conditions of COVID-19 threat to the public health

Rapid and important interventions in healthcare systems are required, including the provision of safety conditions at work and improvement of the working environment, in order to enable the health system to function effectively under significant pressure and to overcome the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.The project will support medical and non-medical staff by providing additional remuneration and social security contributions, as well as delivering protective equipment.In view of the potential increase in the number of patients infected with COVID-19,the healthcare establishments should plan sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical and non-medical staff, and should develop standard operating procedures for their use. Due to the uncertainties of the transmission mechanism of COVID-19,the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has developed guidelines for a specific minimum set of PPE for use in hospitals to serve hospitalized patients with suspected or proven infection with COVID-19. The kit includes PPE for respiratory protection, eye, body and hand protection for the purpose of infection prevention, which is transmitted via contact, aerosol and airborne mode.In addition to the supply of safety conditions at work for medical and non-medical staff, who are involved in the provision of inpatient care for patients with suspected or proven infection with COVID-19,an additional remuneration is provided due to the specific nature of the high-risk activities, performed by the staff for infected patients.This remuneration is also connected with the necessity of labor organization in terms of the relative shortage, caused by the epidemic situation (shift system, monitoring of anti-epidemic measures, guidelines, etc.).This all requires high level of moral and professional involvement of the medical and non-medical staff, dedicated to serve these patients. The provision of additional remuneration is a part of their motivation.

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