SANITAS federation announces a potential general strike in Romania’s health sector as the government plans a 10% cut in salary funds for healthcare and social assistance. On 26 January 2026, representatives of the largest health‑sector trade union, SANITAS, warned that a 10 % reduction in the salary budget would severely damage public health services. They called for a national strike if the government proceeds with the cut, citing a recent internal survey where a majority of 10,152 members demanded protest action. The federation’s press release stated that “the line‑red of salary cuts cannot be accepted” and that it would comply with its members’ mandate. The government’s budget proposal, which targets a 10 % reduction in wages for healthcare and social assistance workers, has sparked this union response, threatening widespread industrial action across hospitals and social care facilities. The union is open to other forms of protest depending on negotiations with authorities but has made clear that a strike is the primary form of opposition if the cuts are enacted. The story highlights the tension between Romania’s fiscal policy and the healthcare workforce’s pushback.

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