Prime Minister Robert Fico’s administration has ignited outrage with a proposed law that forces doctors in critical regions to work under threat of imprisonment, marking a drastic escalation in Slovakia’s healthcare crisis. The amendment to the Civil Protection Act, which bypasses regular parliamentary scrutiny, allows authorities to impose extraordinary circumstances for up to 120 days, stripping doctors of their labour rights while offering no sustainable solutions. Health Minister Kamil Šaško defends the move as essential to public health, yet unions and opposition parties argue it is a coercive attempt to mask the government’s systemic failures, including broken promises on salary increases and chronic underfunding. Critics warn this authoritarian approach could trigger an exodus of disillusioned medical professionals, deepening the sector’s
acute instability
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s administration is pushing forward a controversial amendment to the Civil Protection Act, empowering authorities to compel doctors in critical regions to work during declared “extraordinary circumstances.” Non-compliance would carry a penalty of up to one year in prison. Critics argue this unprecedented step not only undermines labour rights but reflects a deeper failure in governance—one that prioritises threats over solutions.
Health Minister Kamil Šaško has defended the legislation as a measure to protect public health amid mass resignations. He insists the government has met the majority of union demands, framing the remaining disputes as primarily about salaries. However, union leader Peter Visolajský disputes this narrative, accusing the government of reneging on prior agreements and ignoring systemic issues within Slovakia’s crumbling healthcare system.
Doctors have repeatedly pointed to chronic underfunding, overburdened facilities, and insufficient reforms as the root causes of the crisis. While promised salary increases were a critical component of previous agreements, the government’s decision to reduce these from €250 to €160 per month has only deepened the mistrust between officials and healthcare professionals.
Coercion Threatens a Healthcare System Already on the Brink
The rushed legislative process, bypassing regular parliamentary debate, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups. By framing healthcare workers as obstructive and dismissing their demands, the government seeks to deflect attention from its own governance failures. The proposed measures, which would allow authorities to declare extraordinary circumstances in specific regions for up to 120 days, effectively strip doctors of their rights while failing to offer any sustainable solutions to the healthcare system’s deep-seated problems.
The opposition has been swift and vocal in its condemnation. The Christian Democrats labelled the move an abuse of power, warning it sets a dangerous precedent for the erosion of workers’ rights. Progressive Slovakia has highlighted a critical consequence: the growing likelihood that disillusioned doctors, already operating in a heavily compromised healthcare sector, will seek opportunities abroad. Such an exodus could exacerbate the existing brain drain and further destabilise the healthcare system, leaving patients increasingly vulnerable.
Rather than addressing structural challenges through dialogue and systemic reform, Fico’s administration appears focused on coercion and punitive measures. This strategy risks alienating not only the medical community but also the public, undermining trust in institutions. Slovakia’s response to this crisis casts doubt on its adherence to the democratic principles of transparency, accountability, and respect for individual rights—values that should underpin governance, especially in times of crisis.
