HPI

Ministry of Health refuses the claims of producers and distributors of the pharmaceuticals that the information about their marketing expenses published on the MoH website were incorrect. According to the MoH spokeswoman the ambition of the Ministry was to publish these expenditures to show people the overviews of how much are pharmaceutical companies able and willing to spend on their marketing activities. Representatives of producers and distributors of pharmaceuticals argue that because of the ambiguity of the new Act on Pharmaceuticals they provided the overview of expenses for all marketing activities, not only activities aimed at doctors.

Ministry of Health is trying to redistribute six licences for operation of emergency service posts without a new tender. Since 2009 these stations have been operated by several providers, who won the licences in a tender. They consider the current steps of MoH as unlawful, as Ministry instead of tender only renewed the old one by requesting the original applicants in the tender. According to some providers of emergency ambulances this may prevent other possible applicants from obtaining the license.

Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives is asking the President Ivan Gašparovič to sign the law, which will increase their salaries from April. If President wouldn't sign the law, he contributed – according to the Chamber – to the degradation of the nurses and midwives. This appeal came in response to the statement of the Slovak Medical Union of Specialists, which appealed to President not to sign the increasing of salaries of nurses. The head of the Union argues that there are no resources for higher salaries and increasing of salaries can cause serious problems to the outpatient clinics.

Reports on misleading claims of the Ministry of Health are accumulating. After dissatisfied doctors and ambulances also the suppliers of pharmaceuticals have accused the Ministry of misleading informations. In its statetements MoH wrongly informed on marketing expenditures of pharmaceutical companies. According to the spokeswoman of the Association of Suppliers of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices no pharmaceutical company operating in Slovakia spends hundreds of thousands euros monthly on the relations with health care providers.

According to the analysis of the health insurance company Dôvera in 2010 the audit inspectors discovered about 170 000 cases, where patient received the same ąmedical substance from several doctors. In the rare cases it was even 13 packs of the same pharmaceutical per person. Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa claims, that there are more than 200 000 people, who daily use more than 10 pharmaceuticals. Currently, the expenses on pharmaceuticals in Slovakia constitute 28% of total health expenses while OECD average is 17%. In relation to GDP Slovakia spends on pharmaceuticals even the most from OECD countries – 2%, while the average is 1.8%.

Foundation Dar of the Trnava region will annually contribute for treatment to 15 applicants in Neurological-Rehabilitation Centre in Hungarian city Sopron. Clients can receive a maximum of € 500 for a  stay, where they will be treated by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. This method is not used in Slovakia and insurance companies do not cover the treatment. Foundation budgeted € 7 500 for this purpose per year. Treatment will be used by patients with Parkinson's disease and children with problematic psychomotor development.

Association of the Hospitals in Slovakia, which associates small non-state hospitals, is once again highlighting the lack of resources for higher wages of doctors and nurses. After yesterday’s negotiation with private health insurance companies Dôvera and Union, the Association informed that the slight increasing of funds, which have been offered by both insurance companies to the regional hospitals, will not be enough. Association therefore wants the Government to release € 50 million from the state treasury for the Ministry of Health.

Reportedly up to € 37 million may be missing this year to cover increased salaries of doctors and nurses. According to the estimates of health insurance companies, for the increased salaries of doctors and nurses about € 117 million will be needed. Health insurance companies are allegedly expecting that the changes in pharmaceutical policy will save around € 40 million and they will obtain another € 40 million from the higher premium collection.

Slovak Medical Chamber as well as the Association of Private Doctors warn against the collapse of outpatient care. Reportedly it may happen before this summer. The reason should be the increase of salaries of nurses. Minister of Health Ivan Uhliarik, however, claims that covering of increased salaries of nurses in outpatient care is ensured from the increased payments from the state budget and from the pharmaceutical policy.

Government did not approve the proposal of Ministry of Health to cancel two tasks of the Ministry to fulfil the petition of nurses. MoH thereby still have a task to allow the nursing institutions, based of permits and licences, to become the health care providers. Also, MoH has to solve the possibility of reimbursement for  provided nursing care in the nursing institutions from the public insurance.