HPI

By the overtimes and special exemption for healthcare professionals in the Labour Code the state is trying to disguise their lack in healthcare system. This is claimed by the trade union of doctors and nurses. Head of Medical Trade Union, Peter Visolajský, claims that the aim of increasing of hours might be the effort to disguise the lack of doctors in healthcare system. As he also stated, government is trying to disguise the lack of doctors also by increasing of maximum weekly working time. 

Healthcare professionals should according to the new labour code work out of normal working hours up to 250 hours. Medical Trade Union does not like these changes. According to its President, Peter Visolajský, changes will endanger patients and doctors. Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Health, Zuzana Čižmáriková, however, claims that doctors are doing an unnecessary panic, as according to her 150 overtime hours will be set by the labour code and other 100 hours will depend on the agreement between doctor and employer. 

When hospital announces the public procurement, averagely 1.7 companies apply for it. In other departments in an average less than three applicants enter the competitions. Data results from the analysis of the INEKO Institute and Transparency International Slovakia. From January 2009 until March this year hospitals paid for purchased goods, services or construction services more than € 800 million. According to analysts, if there were two or more subjects concerned in the competition, hospitals could from 2009 save almost € 120 million.

More than € 4 billion should enter into the Slovak healthcare system next year. Compared to this year it will be € 153 million more. This amount will be, however, paid by those who duly pay the health contributions from their incomes. State plans to pay less for its policyholders. Payment for one state policyholder will decrease from current € 31.54 to € 31.44. Instead of current 4.33% of the average gross wage in 2010 state wants to pay exactly 4% of the average gross wage from 2011. Decreasing of the state payments is involved in preliminary proposal of the state budget for next year.

Former head of medical trade unionists and current President of Slovak Medical Chamber, Marian Kollár, has been for several weeks trying to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico. Together with other representatives of doctors he wants to discuss with him the plans of keeping the only one state health insurance company and propose also other possibilities how the change the insurance system. Office of Government, however, keeps in referring him to the Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská. According to the spokeswoman of the Office of Government, Beatrice Hudáková, the reason is that this is a special issue, which should be solved in cooperation with related department, in this case with Ministry of Health. 

Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa - VšZP (General Health Insurance Company) has in the last few days registered several attempts at fraudulent collecting of debts from its policyholders. Unknown offender under the auspices of Coface Slovakia CMS company has sent to for now unknown number of insured the reminders regarding the outstanding contributions together with the call for their payment. VsŽP will take further legal action in connection with the fraudulent proceeding of unknown offender.

Slovak Trade Union of Health and Social Services is asking the Association of Hospitals in Slovakia for 10% increasing of wages for all healthcare professionals with effect from September 1, 2012. As stated by Vice President of the Union, Daniela Pochybová, the Association does not agree with the submitted proposal of collective contract sent by the Union and justifies it with the fact that current financial resources do not allow the Association to carry out further increasing of salaries. Trade unions therefore turned themselves to the referee with the requirement to rule the collective dispute. 

Financial group Penta has definitely took over the network of hospitals mainly in eastern Slovakia. Based on the decision of Antimonopoly Office it has acquired the 100% business share in Estate Consult company, which provides the network of hospitals named Svet zdravia in Humenné, Svidník, Spišská Nová Ves, Rožňava, Trebišov, Partizánske and Vranov nad Topľou with field offices in Medzilaborce and Stropkov. Penta plans to invest € 3 million into the modernization and healthcare services until the end of this year. 

According to the new labour code the employer will be able to ordain the healthcare professionals the overtime up to 250 hours per year. Minister of Labour underlines that the exemption will apply only to healthcare employees. Minister of Health has negotiated also with the President of the Trade Union of Health and Social Services, Anton Szalay, who absolutely supported this exemption. Overtime work for other employees remains at 150 hours per year. Amendment to the Labour Code should enter into force from January 1, 2013.

Network of pharmacies Dr. Max owned by investment group Penta is launching the petition for retaining of loyalty systems in pharmacies. This way it reacts to the effort of Ministry of Health to prohibit these discounts. Ministry has justified its proposal in the amendment to the act on pharmaceuticals by the fact that loyalty systems have marketing character and weaken the professional and medical character of pharmaceutical activity.