Amendment to Act on providers cancels direct access to specialists

Permits for the operation of general hospitals are issued by self-governing regions yet. According to Amendment to Act on providers, this competence goes back to the Ministry of Health.

There will be no more direct access to specialists. Patients will have to visit GP for recommendation.

According to Amendment, the teaching hospital can be only one that is seat in the area of the faculty/college and also is included in the minimal public network of hospitals. In other words, the teaching hospital can only be a state hospital, expect the one – St. Elisabeth Cancer Institute in Bratislava.

Permits for emergency providers should be valid for longer time, as the Ministry of Health proposed the prolongation of validity of permits for operation of emergency medical service providers from 4 to 6 years. 

The amendment will also cancel the obligation of health insurance to contract any general practitioner who cares at least one of its insured.

The amendment should enter into force in April 2013.