HPI

National Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases in Bratislava opened new Centre for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Director of the Institute received the decision about the establishment of the Centre from the Ministry of Health at the end of the year. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare chronic disease characterized by progressive increase of blood pressure in pulmonary artery. In regard to the uniqueness of the disease, its serious prognosis, complicated diagnostic procedures and specifics of the treatment is the diagnostic and therapeutic process focused in the specialized centres, such as the new one in Bratislava.

From the beginning of 2012 there should be 52 new pharmaceuticals on Slovak market. Now, the reimbursement list issued by the Ministry of Health contains 5 515 drugs. More than half of them are fully reimbursed without any patient's co-payment. Head of the MoH pharmaceutical policy department claims that copayments are increasing only in group of pharmaceuticals without clearly proven and confirmed effect according to the recent medical studies or in cases, where producers did not reduce the price while there are alternatives to these pharmaceuticals with no or socially acceptable co-payments.

Ministry of Health does not refuse the dialogue with the representatives of emergency ambulances, which do not like the proposal or reducing of their payments. According to its spokeswoman MoH will carefully analyze each comment and considers the dialogue as benefit. Association of Emergency Medical Services called the ministry on Wednesday for the common negotiations, as well as the suspension of action until the meeting will take place. According to the Association the emergency ambulances would have to cut their cost and save, which may have negative impact on patients.

Healthcare Surveillance Authority and German Institute for payment system in hospitals finally agreed on declassification of the price resulting from the contract on cooperation in the development and implementation of DRG system in Slovakia. Contract price in amount of € 1.666 million will be paid in four instalments, while Healthcare Surveillance Authority will pay the first one from its budget. Financing is planned from the budget of Authority and from the state budget.

Year 2013 should bring real benefits in the form of computerization of medical services and processes. These should, according to Ministry of Health, increase the quality of health care of citizens, ensure the cost saving in the system, but also reduce errors and mistakes and bring higher satisfaction of citizens with the healthcare. Program of implementation of eHealth continues with the first implementation phase. Main project of this phase will create the bearing part of the National Health Information System.

Ministry of Health submitted a proposal for reducing of payments for emergency service to find additional resources for increasing salaries of doctors in hospitals. To meet the expectations of doctors, ministry will need about € 35 million this year. Ministry is looking for resources in pharmaceutical policy but also in emergency services. Minister wants to adjust the price of care provided by emergency ambulances and the price per kilometer of ride of emergency service. It is expected that this could bring annual savings in amount of about € 4.7 million. Revenues of emergency ambulances would decrease by about 12%.

Ministry of Health is planning to decrease payments for emergency medical services from February. The representatives of providers of these services do not ruled out legal proceedings against Slovakia for damages. Association of Medical Emergency Service criticized, that two years after tendering for four-year license for operation of emergency service the reimbursement rules are changing. Association called on Minister Ivan Uhliarik to cancel the proposed price measures, as well as for joint discussion. Providers of emergency want to introduce Minister their own ideas about the possibilities of saving in this segment.

Doctors are fighting against the legislation which would allow Government to end up strike of healthcare professionals in case of threat of life and health. Slovak Medical Chamber is currently appealing to president Ivan Gašparovič and is asking him, according to his competence, to decide on rejecting of mandate of Government to submit this amendment. Doctors consider this amendment as revenge against all healthcare professionals after last year's mass-notice-protest of physicians. They also claim that the draft legislation is excessively interfering into the fundamental right of healthcare professionals to exercise their profession.

Under the threat of termination of contracts are outpatient clinics in non-state hospitals asking for more money. While Minister of Health is looking for resources for salaries of doctors, requests from other healthcare professionals are increasing. The head of the Association of hospitals in Slovakia Marián Petko says for Hospodárske noviny daily (09/01/2012)  they want the same money as private doctors from the Association Zdravita will get. Biggest health insurance company, Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa, will increase the payments for private doctors by 7%. Outpatient clinics in non-state hospitals want more money also for the operation of emergency posts.

According to Slovak Television primetime news programme, smaller hospitals will need € 5 million in the first half of year to cover the increase of doctors' salaries. Hospitals, however, are allegedly already indebted and still do not know where to get these money. Health insurance companies did not change their contracts yet. Ministry of Health remains calm: it expects savings from pharmaceutical reform in amount of € 100 million annualy.