HPI

Debt in health care system thanks to relieving of debts of state health care institutions decreased by about € 134.6 million. At the end of last year it was € 150.5 million. This results from the report on development of debts in health care system approved by Government. Debt of health care institutions in the scope of state was € 69.44 million. Indebted are also the health care institutions delimited to municipalities and self-governmental regions, as well as those transformed into the non-profit organizations. Their total debt in 2011 reached € 80.93 million.

Slovak Trade Union of Health and Social Services, according to its President Anton Szalay, accepts the newly created trade union of nurses. However, unionist cannot agree with the attacks on the Union from the side of Union of Nurses. He noted that the Union fencers the interests of all employees, not only nurses. He does not consider the cleavage of unions as positive, but he announced that if there will be an interest, his Union will negotiate with the new one. For now, according to his words, Union of Nurses and Midwives refused this step.

Association of health insurance companies in Slovakia considers the words of Prime Minister Robert Fico about the possible end of private health insurance companies as unfortunate and nonstandard. According to the President of the Association the Government should at first notify the shareholders. Those were allegedly not contacted yet. President of the Association also noted that in time of consolidation of public finances the out-buying of shares would worsen our economic situation. 

Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) and representatives of outpatient doctors has agreed on the form of new contract. This should be according to the conditions of legislation valid for 12 months, price quotations is, however, made only for 6 months. Doctors want to negotiate on its amount again. Based on the agreement the general practitioners will get from insurance company the increasing of payments by 8%. The payments of specialists should be increased by 5%. Agreement also assumes the increasing of the point for prevention.

Net profit of private health insurance company Dôvera last year reached the amount of € 39 million, what means 4% of its total turnover. Preliminary estimates of Healthcare Surveillance Authority (HSA) in March predicted the profit of fewer than € 10 million. The difference was reportedly due to the fact that Office did not have the definite accounting balance in that time. This was allegedly delivered to Office yesterday. Insurance company allegedly reached this profit thanks to the savings on operating costs and from the exaction of old debts. 

Representatives of outpatient doctors again failed to agree with Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) on signing of the amendments to the contracts. Representatives of doctors refused to accept the 8% increasing of payments of insurance company for the medical performances from July. Insurance company started the negotiations on the level of 6.5%. If doctors accept the newest offer, it would mean the increasing by 15% compared to 2011 and for average outpatient clinic it would mean monthly € 200 more. 

According to Minister Zvolenská, the offer of Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) is four times higher than the annual percentage increasing of payments for providing of health care offered before. Doctors, however, still consider it as inadequate and are asking VšZP to add them 20%. Minister considers the claims of representatives of doctors as excessive. In addition, the offer of state insurance company is according to her information comparable with the offers of other health insurance companies. 

The Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to hurry with the buy-out of private health insurance companies. They should be replaced by one state health insurance company. Prime Minister also informed that insurance company Dôvera did not refuse the negotiations on this issue. Strongly against it is Union Health Insurance Company. Vision outlined by R. Fico will according to Union not bring the savings of public resources. Prime Minister justified his intention by the fact, that private health insurance companies are taking from public resources in the time, when Government is seeking for reserves to consolidate the public finances.

Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská called on patients not to pay anything in the outpatient clinics. She pointed out that Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) has ensured everything so people do not have to pay for pharmaceuticals and examinations. Head of the Ministry therefore asked patients not to support doctors in their approach when they, according to her, abuse patients to force the state insurance company to agree to their excessive terms. 

Doctors still have not completed the negotiations with Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company). Both sides presented at today's joint negotiation their compromise proposals, but refused to informed about them. According to the President of Slovak Medical Chamber, Marian Kollár, they will now evaluate the compromise. Outpatient care doctors represented by Slovak Medical Chamber, Zdravita o.z., as well as the Association of General Practitioners for Children and Adolescents therefore continue to remain in non-contract relationship.