HPI

Ten regional hospitals owned by Penta´s company Svet zdravia are subjects to significant changes. Investor is seeking for the way how to economize along with modernization. Central procurement and integration of the management of hospitals should help to fulfil its ambitions. Competencies of directors of particular healthcare institutions are already severely limited. Unsure is also the future of laboratories and pharmacies provided by hospitals. Even this, however, is about to be changed.  

Slovak healthcare system is one step closer to greater informatization. Ministry of Finance as the intermediate body for Operation Programme Information Society has published the written challenge for the project National Health Information System in maximum total value of € 49 million. Financial aid is provided in the form of nonreturnable financial subsidy. Project is co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund.  

Doctors and patients are afraid of the changes in supplementary charges for pharmaceuticals. Ministry claims that in November, the latest in December the supplementary charges could be adjusted again, as it plans to change the Decree prepared by former Minister Ivan Uhliarik. But even before that it will reportedly modify the supplementary charges that patients will pay from October. Ministry wants to discuss on changes of the Decree also with the professional companies, what will slow-down its preparation.  

Supplementary charges of patients should until October according to the representatives of professional medical companies increase by € 51 million. This should be a result of the Decree of Ministry of Health, which has divided a number of pharmaceuticals in Slovak market into the payment groups, so called clusters. Doctors warn that patients will thus have to choose, whether to pay money or waste their health and reach for older, not modern treatment, which they have been using until now.

Expropriation of private health insurance companies, which in the context of creation of one state health insurance company Government concedes, allegedly does not have to be that easy. Analysis of health insurance company Union reportedly says that legal requirements for expropriation are not met. Dutch shareholder of Union health insurance company, Achmea company, already announced its interest to stay in Slovak market and informed also the Government. Government, however, has not been communicating with insurance companies about the preparing changes yet.

Žilina self-government region has decided to offer for sale 9 buildings of former polyclinics to private doctors in an effort to motivate them to stay in these buildings and keep providing health care here. Buildings are situated in Kysucké Nové Mesto, Bytča, Turzovka, Liptovský Mikuláš, Liptovský Hrádok, Martin and Turčianske Teplice. According to the spokesman of the region, Peter Kubica, if private doctors agree with Žilina region, it would mean not only a maintaining of outpatient clinics in current location, but also their further development. 

Nurses believe in fast and fair decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the law adjusting their wages. Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives expects from it the stability of Slovak healthcare system, quality health care and social certainty for healthcare professionals. In reaction to the requirements of nurses the act on minimum wage claims of nurses and midwives was created and entered into force in April. Its effectiveness is, however, suspended by the July decision of Constitutional Court. 

Cancelling of loyalty systems in pharmacies as well as the change of conditions for network pharmacies are according to Antimonopoly Office not justified enough. Newly it will not be possible to provide one person with the permit for providing of pharmaceutical care in more than one pharmacy. Office considers this as a significant intervention to the business environment, which will disable businessmen to grow. According to the Office the submitter also gave no reasons that led him to such a strict form of regulation.

Patients complain that they cannot chose the specialists, which they want so free choice of doctor set by the law only works on the paper. Doctors argue that they cannot accept new clients due to health insurance companies. These each month commit a package of performances that will be covered. Therefore they are refusing patients and sending them to the outpatient clinics in the place of their residence. Health insurance companies defend their approach and say that specialists sometimes provide unnecessary examinations. Ministry of Health and health insurance companies also argue that free choice of doctor in Slovakia real exists. Therefore in the case of its violating Ministry recommends dissatisfied patient to complain.

Zuzana Zvolenská in online interview with readers of daily Pravda stated that for Ministry is essential that all money collected in health insurance will be directed to the healthcare system. As she further said, in the years 2006 to 2011 private health insurance companies reached the profit in amount of € 500 million, while newly all this money will be returned where they belong – to payments of health care of citizens.