Penza, 23 January 2018. PenzaNews. Victor Khomets, coordinator of the regional movement Left Front, distributed several hundred of leaflets with official information about salaries of doctors and nurses in the Penza region near the gates of the Burdenko Penza regional hospital on Tuesday, January 23, in the morning.

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Health workers going to work, students and patients were among those who received the leaflets.

Victor Khomets suggested each of them getting familiar with the information announced by Oksana Chizhova, deputy minister of health, at the meeting between governor Ivan Belozertsev and a regional activist group on January 18.

"Compared to 2012, salaries of doctors increased by 75%, those of medium-level staff – by 69%, junior medical staff – 2.5 times. Average salaries of doctors equal 43,000 roubles, those of medium-level staff – 21,800 roubles, junior medical staff – 18,900. Ask health workers if it is really true!" the leaflet reads.

Many people got perplexed when saw the figures.

"My salary before deduction of taxes is 7,000 roubles," a worker of a medical institution, whose salary according to the declared data must be three times higher, said.

With the help of the leaflets Left Front also reminded about "the funeral campaign" held near the building of the regional Ministry of Health on December 15 during which two people wearing masks depicting Vladimir Stryuchkov, head of the ministry, brought a coffin and a wreath to the porch of the department. By doing this, the representatives of the movement protested against reforms in health care. Later Vladimir Stryuchkov stated that the campaign had not influenced him personally.

Representatives of the regional hospital did not prevent the distribution of the leaflets – attempts to persuade the activist to move away from the territory of the institution were not successful.

Similar campaigns are expected to be held near other Penza hospitals.