Estonian doctors earn more than their Baltic colleagues
Compensation of health care professionals has risen in all three Baltic countries in recent years, yet remains substantially lower in Latvia and Lithuania, the “Health in the Baltic Countries” 2004-2014 survey showed.
In 2014, doctors’ monthly salaries averaged €1,944 in Estonia, €1,197 in Lithuania, and €1,097 in Latvia. Compared to national average gross wages, the pay of physicians was twice higher in Estonia, 1.7 times higher in Lithuania, and 1.4 times higher in Latvia.
Nurses’ average salaries amounted to 50% of doctors’ pay in Estonia and Lithuania, and 60 % in Latvia, exceeding the national average only in Estonia.
Per capita health expenditure was considerably higher in Estonia. Here, it reached €930, compared to Lithuania’s €780 and Latvia’s €650.
The GDP share of health care expenditure was fairly similar in all three countries, with 6.1% in Estonia, 5.5% in Latvia, and 6.3% in Lithuania.
The “Health in the Baltic Countries” 2014 survey is the 23rd such survey conducted. Unlike the previous editions, which compared health statistics of the three countries in a given year, the latest issue focuses on changes in health-related indicators over the years, and comparisons with European averages where possible.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: BNS