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Debt of medical facilities to the Social Insurance Company on unpaid premiums reached 48.7 million euros at the end of 2012. Compared to November 2012, there was a decrease in account receivables of € 6.8 million. According to the Social Insurance Company, debt has annually increased of 29.9 million euros.

At the end of 2012, debt of facilities managed by the Ministry of Health accounted more than 53 % of total assets, i.e. € 25.8 million.

State hospitals were forced by government to pay its debts to the Social Insurance Company at the end of last year. Together five medical facilities have paid 10.4 million euros. Two months later, again generated a loss and to Social Insurance Company owes even more.

The biggest problems have hospitals managed by county. Up to 15 hospitals in the scope of regions is drowning in debt. At the end of 2012, their debts on contributions to Social Insurance Company amounted to more than € 22 million, what is half of all hospital debts.

Permits for the operation of general hospitals are issued by self-governing regions yet. According to Amendment to Act on providers, this competence goes back to the Ministry of Health.

There will be no more direct access to specialists. Patients will have to visit GP for recommendation.

According to Amendment, the teaching hospital can be only one that is seat in the area of the faculty/college and also is included in the minimal public network of hospitals. In other words, the teaching hospital can only be a state hospital, expect the one - St. Elisabeth Cancer Institute in Bratislava.

Permits for emergency providers should be valid for longer time, as the Ministry of Health proposed the prolongation of validity of permits for operation of emergency medical service providers from 4 to 6 years. 

The amendment will also cancel the obligation of health insurance to contract any general practitioner who cares at least one of its insured.

The amendment should enter into force in April 2013.

Loyalty systems on prescription drugs in pharmacies are cancelled. However, amendment to the law on pharmaceuticals, signed by President of the Slovak Republic, give pharmacists opportunity to give up the part of their margin in the form of discounts up to 50% of the surcharge for drugs. According to amended, natural or legal person will receive permission for the provision of pharmaceutical care in only one public pharmacy and only for one division of public pharmacy. In practice, it means the elimination of network of pharmacies. The amendment enters into force on January 2, 2013.

Price of pharmaceuticals in Slovakia will be not higher than the average of three lowest prices in the European Union. This principle is also related to medical devices and dietary supplements. This stems from an amendment to the law on pharmaceuticals. Currently, the maximum price cannot exceed the second lowest price in the European Union.

The Ministry of Health wanted to enforce that the physicians, nurses and other health professionals had to start work during the state of emergency. According to the Act, the doctors and nurses could be threatening not only by a fine to € 3300, but also by the prison. If somebody avoids going to work, could be threatening by to two years in prison. If there will be severe damage to the health of the patient or patient will die, the penalty may be extended to five years.

The proposal did not like even the largest medical organization bringing together trade unionists in Europe - the European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS).

The proposal was finally withdrawn. Amendment to Act on providers has a milder version, which allows introducing a two-three shift service after consultation with the union. Amendment should come into force from April 2013.

Investment group Penta once again strengthen its position in the Czech Republic. It bought another network of pharmacies - SimonPharma, with sales of € 19.9 million. The largest network of pharmacies Dr. Max with 279 branches will get another six and also the internet pharmacy DocSimon. Network of pharmacies Dr. Max in the Czech Republic manage Penta by the company Česká lekárna. In November, Antimonopoly Office has approved the acquisition of pharmacy network Lloyds and GehePharma Praha by Penta. Česká lekárna in 2010 reached sales of € 0.32 billion and control one-tenth of all pharmacies in the Czech Republic.

Ministry of Health has submitted a proposal of Act on National Health Information System. This creates a basic legal framework for Information. As can be seen from the material, policyholders should get a health insurance card with an electronic chip until the end of 2015. This would allow electronic identification of citizens. Proposal of Act in addition introduces concepts such as electronic medical history, patient summary and electronic health record. It also introduces electronic health professional card and electronic insurance card. It also creates the conditions for electronic prescriptions of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and dietary supplements. 

Price of pharmaceuticals in Slovakia will be not higher than the average of three lowest prices in the European Union. This principle is also related to medical devices and dietary supplements. This stems from an amendment to the Act on pharmaceuticals signed by President Ivan Gašparovič. Currently, the maximum price can not exceed the second lowest price in the European Union. Before that, prices were set by comparison of six lowest prices in Union. The aim of the amendment is introduction of more equitable method of pricing of pharmaceuticals considering prices of other Member States and exchange rate changes.

From next year will enter into force a new Decree of Ministry of Health on minimum staff, material and technical equipment of health facilities. According to it, in the service will no longer need to be three nurses, but only two, and one can be replaced by a paramedic - rescuer. This change is denied by Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives. Ministry of Health believes that paramedics are as trained as nurses to provide medical care. The chamber is concerned about it and asks, how can be three nurses replaced by two people without reducing staffing norm. However, Ministry argues that these workplaces can have more employees. 

Loyalty systems on prescription drugs in pharmacies will be cancelled from next year. However, amendment to the Act on pharmaceuticals, signed by President of the Slovak Republic, give pharmacists the opportunity to give up the part of their margin in the form of discounts up to 50% of the surcharge for drugs. According to amended, natural or legal person will receive permission for the provision of pharmaceutical care in only one public pharmacy and only for one division of public pharmacy. In practice, it means the elimination of network of pharmacies. The amendment will enter into force on January 2, 2013.

Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic approved the transaction, which the company Medirex takes half share in the laboratory diagnostic company - HPL. Company Medirex is owned by Radoslav Bardún together with German partner Hans Jacob Limbach. Medirex also owns hospital in Malacky. Owner of HPL is doctor Juraj Hanzen. Medirex in 2010 has turnover of € 27.5 million. Medirex company reported that by connecting with HPL will be create the strongest Slovak group in the field of laboratory diagnostics.