HPI

New directors of hospitals in Košice and Banská Bystrica already announced the steps, which they will take to improve the financial situation of their hospitals. They should involve also the dismissals or reduction of bonuses, which are set in the collective contract. Other funds managers want to save on pharmaceuticals and medical material and also by the more consistent planning of hospitalizations. Dismissals and reduction of bonuses is allegedly planned also in other hospitals, including the smaller general hospitals.

The most influential medical organization, Slovak Medical Chamber, has a new leader from Saturday. Delegates of Žilina concilium chose for a President the main face of last year´s strikes of doctors, Marián Kollár. He won unexpectedly smoothly in the first round, in which he clearly beat other candidates from previous management. Kollár until March headed the medical trade union, which last year unleashed the biggest strike of doctors in the history of the country. New management of the Chamber is concerning part of politicians, who are afraid, that Chamber might be changed into the trade union organization.

Company Zentiva Hlohovec has greatly outraged in 2011. Its net profit amounted only € 7.55 million. Year before it was € 54.8, that is seven times less. Revenues were comparable in both years, but production costs, however, last year sharply increased. They increased from € 87 million in 2010 to € 142.8 in 2011. Producer of generics declined to comment on the reasons of the drop in his profit. 

Hospitals are again mired in debts. About half year after releasing of their debts by state the turning in vicious cycle is repeating. They already owe only to Social Insurance Company more than € 36 million. If they do not pay or do not make an agreement on the timetable, their debts will be recovered by executor and hospitals will thus lose even more money. This happed last year in hospital in Považská Bystrica. Employees, for who the hospitals do not pay the contributions, might bring the suit against them.  

Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská sees this or next year no space for penetrative increasing of salaries of other healthcare professionals, as it was in the case of doctors and nurses. Minister should meet their representatives at the beginning of June and she expects the requirements for enhancement of salaries from their side. Zvolenská pointed out, that „dramatic“ increasing of wages of these healthcare employees would mean the end of particular healthcare institutions.

Investment group Penta has launched the sale of its laboratories Alpha medical. Their sale is allegedly managed by Rothschild Bank International, which already asked potential candidates to submit their offers for purchase by June, the 27th. Company, which will receive Alpha medical, will become a strong market leader. There are few strong players operating in Slovak business with laboratories, which might be interested in purchasing of laboratories. Any of them will, however, need an approval of Antimonopoly Office. An interest was already openly expressed by the company Medirex, which currently competes for leadership in Slovakia with Penta laboratories.

Way of purchasing of vaccines will be changed again. Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská will probably comprise with the pressure of doctors and pharmacies, which do not agree with the changes made by her predecessor Ivan Uhliarik. Based on the amendment to the act on pharmaceuticals from December last year doctors have to purchase vaccines by themselves and store them in their outpatient clinics. Minister has already negotiated on the change of current situation with representatives of all parties. According to her spokeswoman, Zuzana Čižmáriková, she is ready to solve the tense situation.

Police investigator declined complaints on representatives of Medical Trade Union for extortion and other crimes, which should have beed comitted in the event of collective dismissals of doctors. Complaints were submitted by about 20 people late last year and at the beginning of this year. Besides extortions the complaints considered also for example allegations of heavy coercion, terorism, sabotage, breaching of the duties by the dire distress or imposing against Slovak Republic. Investigator declined them by one order in February.

Private health insurance company Dôvera considers as unrealistic to introduce new way of reallocation of premium, so called PCG, into the practise as fast, as is proposed in the amendment to the act on health insurance. Money from new reallocation should according to Dôvera come to insurance companies in October. Dôvera pointed out, that given by the experiences from abroad it is unrealistic to handle correct and in time introduction of PCG into practise in Slovakia in one month. Efforts to immediate obtaining of resources in health care department should according to Dôvera not go at the expense of quality of forthcoming legislation.

Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská wants to give the health care system a vision for at least 10 years. Conception should be formed by separate body – advisory board of Minister, the status of which she wants to introduce in summer. Minister would only be invited. According to the Minister Slovakia has big problems in education, fails to attract the segment of primary care and is also missing the health care professionals. These are the problems, which should be concerned by the advisory board. Working groups should work regardless of what the political direction of the country would be.