Over 400 hospitals to hold warning strike on 20 July: non-urgent admissions to be suspended

Over 400 hospitals in Romania are preparing to take part in the warning strike announced by healthcare trade unions for 20 July 2026. This will be the first such action in the past 20 years. Employees are calling on the Government to reverse a number of measures that have affected their pay rights and working conditions.

Schedule: activity will halt between 09:00 and 11:00

For two hours, between 09:00 and 11:00, hospital staff will gather outside their medical facilities in protest. During this period, there will be no admissions, no scheduled operations, and no treatments or consultations that are not emergencies.

The largest hospitals are likely to be the most affected, as well as smaller medical units, where patients sometimes travel tens or even hundreds of kilometres for a consultation. Specialist consultations, treatments, and scheduled procedures during this period are at risk of being postponed.

From 28 July, a general strike is possible

If the situation does not change, the trade unions have announced a general strike beginning 28 July, which could bring medical activity to a standstill for an indefinite period. The unions stress, however, that emergency services will be maintained both during the warning strike and throughout any potential general strike.

It is important to note that participation in the protest is not compulsory. Wards where staff do not join the action will operate normally, including for scheduled operations, treatments, and consultations. Families of patients with appointments on these days can check directly with the relevant hospital whether the ward in which they are booked is taking part in the protest.

What the trade unionists are demanding

The healthcare trade unions are calling for:

• Restoration of the pay rights set out in Collective Labour Agreement no. 1480/11.09.2023, which were affected by Emergency Government Ordinance (OUG) no. 7/2026;
• Cancellation of the cuts to allowances and additional leave days imposed by OUG no. 36/2025;
• Non-discriminatory access to meal allowances and holiday vouchers, regardless of the cap introduced by Law no. 141/2025;
• Resumption of dialogue on the new pay legislation, with the establishment of appropriate salary coefficients for healthcare and social care staff;
• Retention of the shift allowance at 15% and the 100% supplement for work at weekends and on public holidays;
• Reintroduction of the working conditions allowance;
• Inclusion of administrative and technical staff (TESA) within the same pay schedule annex;
• Alignment of social care salaries with those in the non-clinical healthcare sector.