On Tuesday, MPs discussed Investpro, the Vaud State Council’s plan to combat the shortage of healthcare personnel, in their first debate. The initial project presented by the government emerged virtually intact after two hours of lively discussions.
As a reminder, the program is worth 90 million francs for the period 2024-2027 and consists of three axes. The first aims to increase, from 300 to 450, the number of nurses trained each year in the canton. Indeed, according to official figures, there should be a shortage of between 2000 and 2500 in the canton by 2030, as well as around 500 community care assistants (ASSC).
The second axis aims to promote the professions of care, health and socio-education, in particular through actions in schools and with parents.
Finally, the third axis consists of improving working conditions and supporting a better work-life balance, in order to retain employees in the care professions. Currently, more than a third of them leave the profession before the age of 35, particularly due to the arduous nature of the work.
Reserves of the left
The deputies unanimously accepted the introduction, welcoming the proactivity of the Council of State on a complex issue, only three years after the people accepted the federal initiative for strong nursing care.
The left, however, expressed some reservations. Sébastien Cala, leader of the socialist group, considered that the draft decree was “not up to the challenges”, while Marc Vuilleumier (Ensemble à gauche – POP), stressed that despite the plebiscite of the initiative in the canton, the project had “stopped halfway” and that “a few tens of millions” were missing to carry out the three axes.
Salary differences
The issue of upgrading salaries in the parapublic health sector in Vaud (CCT-San) with those of the Riviera-Chablais Hospital (CCT-HRC) and the CHUV sparked intense debate, following an amendment proposed by Mr. Cala. This point was also the subject of a petition submitted a week earlier to the Grand Council by the Public Services Union and the SUD Trade Union Federation.
According to figures provided by the left, nurses who are dependent on the CCT San earn on average 8,000 francs less per year than those at CHUV or in neighbouring cantons. “It is time to recognise the commitment of healthcare personnel,” said Mr Cala. The right denounced the cost of this amendment, which, according to the PLR Alexandre Berthoud, would amount to 80 million per year.
“The loyalty of professionals is not achieved solely through salary. People want harmony at work and this is not achieved through money,” argued his party colleague François Cardinaux. “When you can earn 10,000 francs more in the neighboring canton, money still counts,” retorted Mr. Cala.
“Avoid watering”
Health Minister Rebecca Ruiz, for her part, was keen to point out that the State had been injecting 30 million per year since 2019 into different sectors of the CCT San and that multiple gaps had thus been filled. In the end, the amendment was rejected by 76 votes against, 60 for and two abstentions.
Another sticking point: the amendment proposed by the liberal-radical Florence Gross, aiming to withdraw care and support aids and socio-educational assistants from the beneficiaries of the program “in order to avoid watering down”. The left denounced a “well-played attempt to divide the staff”.
For her part, Ms Ruiz noted that the shortage of socio-educational assistants, even if it is not currently massive, was nevertheless announced. The deputies rejected this amendment by 71 no against 69 yes and no abstentions.
With the exception of these points, the majority of the articles were accepted by a very large majority. The deputies will take up the draft decree again soon, as part of the second debate.
This article was published automatically. Source: ats
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