The mass layoffs in the healthcare system of the Neftchala district have been met with serious dissatisfaction among the local population and medical workers. As a result of the "reforms" carried out at the Kholgaraqashli Village District Hospital in the district, the dismissal of dozens of employees not only jeopardizes the quality of medical services but also deprives hundreds of families of their source of income.
Medianews.az reports that a complaint received by NOCOMMENT.az states that the sudden decision to dismiss 34 out of 54 employees at the hospital was completely unexpected for the staff. Among those laid off, 20 were junior medical workers; out of 21 nurses, 13 were dismissed, making a total of 13 nurses laid off. No clear explanation was given to the workers about the reasons for the decision; they were only granted a two-month grace period to find new jobs. Dissatisfied employees claim that the layoff process was not conducted transparently and that some individuals were retained at work due to personal connections. Although official authorities justify the layoffs by the norm of one nurse per 600-800 people, considering that a total of 4,800 people live in the two villages served by the hospital, these figures cause serious problems for the population. No information about compensation or unemployment benefits has yet been provided to the workers.
Another serious problem caused by the layoffs is the limitation of access to medical services. Residents report that due to staff shortages, the hospital no longer operates night shifts. For villagers located 55 kilometers from the district center, this means both delays in emergency assistance and exclusion from other primary medical services.
The complainants believe that the carried-out "reforms" should have focused not on staff reductions but on meeting the actual medical needs in the area, including improving emergency services. Experts emphasize that these measures are merely aimed at saving budget funds and undermine citizens' fundamental right to medical care.
Our attempts to obtain the position of TƏBİB regarding this issue remained fruitless; the institution’s press service left our inquiries unanswered.
It should be noted that this is not the first complaint concerning layoffs of healthcare workers in the regions, and similar cases are being observed in other districts of the country as well.