HPI

Regional hospitals are not going to fight against the act adjusting the wages of doctors in hospitals. As was clarified by the President of the Association of Hospitals in Slovakia, Marián Petko, hospitals will consider the submission to the General Prosecutor in the matter of this legal standard on the base of information from Ministry of Health, health insurance companies and critical will be also the shape of state budget for the next year. He pointed out, however, that part of members is inclined to the submission, other part is contrary careful. He admitted the concerns of possible strike.

Hard fight for the chairs in management of hospitals had not taken place. Ministry of Health has definitely determined the bosses in its six other institutions. The selection procedure, however, was more a formality. Almost nobody has expressed the interest in these positions, expect the substituting directors. Function was thus easily given to those, who Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská appointed shortly after her accession. 

Government has complied with Ministry of Health and approved the change of purpose of using the capital expenditures in amount of € 300 000. Money was originally intended for the project of rationalization and restructuring of healthcare institutions in the scope of Ministry which last year should have helped their efficiency and transformation into joint-stock companies. Now, Ministry can use this money for the expert information system. This should support the supervision over healthcare institutions and ensure the effective financial management of these institutions. 

Material proposing the way how Slovakia should move from the system of several health insurance companies to only one, is already in the world. Ministry of Health has submitted to the commentary proceeding „Project of implementation of unitary system of public health insurance in Slovak republic“. Material is still considering three possibilities of creating of one health insurance company, namely the management of portfolio, redemption of shares or specified assets or expropriation of private health insurance companies.

After doctors and nurses also other healthcare professionals want to have their wages guaranteed by the law. As stated by the President of Slovak Trade Union of Health and Social Services, Anton Szalay, according to the education, experience and difficulty of the work their wage should increase at least to the level of average wage in national economy, what is about € 800 monthly. Currently, according to him, some physiotherapists or laboratory workers earn € 400 – 450 gross, what he considers as inadequate. 

Ministry of Health has submitted to Government the amendment to the act on pharmaceuticals contrary to the legislation rules. This is claimed in the statement of company Mirakl – the provider of pharmacy network Dr. Max. Ministry should have, according to this company, submitted to Legislative Council which is an advisory body of the Government the amendment to the act without the mandatory information about why it did not satisfy the public comment. In this comment 7 781 citizens have objected to the prohibition of loyalty systems in pharmacies. 

The vast majority of hospital doctors is asking the Government to fulfil the Memorandum, as has been agreed last year, including the third wave of increasing of their salaries. According to doctors, this level of increasing of wages would not require € 40 million as was presented by Ministry of Health and in case of fulfilling of Memorandum the increasing of salaries will not burden the state budget. 

Some doctors are involved into the rivalry of health insurance companies for obtaining of policyholders. They are encouraging their patients to leave private health insurance company and convert into the public one. Activities of doctors should support the effort of Government to create the only one health insurance company. Peter Lipták from Slovak Medical Chamber called on his colleagues for the similar effort through e-mail. The largest private health insurance company Dôvera wants to defend through the legal action. 

Health insurance companies will return people for the second quarter of this year € 373 494 for surcharges. In the frame of protection limit on surcharges the money will be returned to 21 685 pensioners and disabled. This results from the information of health insurance companies. Policyholders will get this money automatically to their accounts or through the order, it is not necessary to ask for them. Health insurance companies are returning money in the frame of protection limit for the fifth time.  

Money for increasing of salaries of healthcare professionals in Slovakia are available. Accroding to the former President of Health Comittee, Viliam Novotný, former Government has prepared the sources for covering the higher salaries of doctors and nurses. These money should, according to him, come from higher collection of health insurance, savings through pharmaceutical reform or from € 50 million reserve in state budget. Minister of Health, however, claims that former Government did not ensure any money for increasing of salaries.