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News
Union believes that health insurance sector with several insurance companies is more effective than system with one insurance company with no competition. Board member of Union, Boris Masloviec, specified that shareholder of the insurance company – Dutch health insurance company Achmea is analysing the steps of Slovak Government and has already informed Government on its displeasure and disapproval. According to general director of Union, Roman Polák, the Government's argument for creation of one insurance company which relies on profits from health insurance is irrelevant.
Similarly to nurses also doctors might lose their higher salaries. Association of Hospitals in Slovakia is considering the submission to General Attorney for investigation of the constitutionality of the act on wages of doctors. Association claims that acts on salaries of doctors and nurses are favouring only certain groups of employees. Doctors do not understand the activities of the Association and threatened that they will publicize “the reality” of private healthcare institutions.
Patients taking pharmaceuticals for elevated cholesterol levels, osteoporosis or prescribed antibiotics, might pay more in pharmacy from 1st August. In the July categorization the supplementary charges decreased, but now they will be increased. In august, the Reimbursement Committee decided that supplementary charge will be increased by almost 1 300 pharmaceuticals. Patient may avoid the paying of supplementary charge by choosing the alternative pharmaceuticals, which is fully covered by health insurance company.
Private health insurance company Union today repeatedly declared its intention to remain on Slovak health insurance market. According to director of Union, Roman Podolák, the policyholders do not have to worry about anything and Union will take care of them at all times. He pointed out that discussion on the creation of one insurance company should not be the reason for the change of insurance company for anybody. He mentioned that if Government or Všoebecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) indicate something else, it might be considered as unfair competition.
Representatives of Slovak Medical Chamber want to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico as soon as possible. They want to discuss with him the planned intention of the Government to create one health insurance company. As stated in the letter of the Chamber addressed to Prime Minister, on the joint meeting the representatives of doctors would like to open the question considering the change of the insurance system. They also want to open the issue of direction of healthcare system and participation of the Chamber in this process.
Spas are losing customers, who are being sent there for after-care by doctors. Reason is the increasing of payments for diabetics and people with high blood pressure. Although these are diseases, which are affecting more and more people. After the change of the act, the patients with these diagnoses since December last year have to pay supplementary payments for accommodation and food. Previously it was covered by health insurance company.
Forcing nurses to sign the amendments to the contracts or new contracts, which ascribe them the professional activities out of their classification, is unethical and in conflict with the Directive of EU Parliament and Committee on Recognition of Professional Classifications. This is stated in the supporting statement for Slovak nurses made by General Secretary of the European Federation of Nurses, Paul de Raeve. Such practices for circumventing of the act on minimum wage claims of nurses should be according to him monitored by European Union, including the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.
According to several experts the planned restoration of terminal network of hospitals from the side of Minister of Health, Zuzana Zvolenská, will bring the bigger space for corruption and poor quality of provided health care. Former Minister Ivan Uhliarik considers the plans of current management of the Ministry as the return to socialism and warns against the corruption. According to him the Antimonopoly Office has already detected that hospitals from the list abused their market position.
Last year state paid for its policyholders more than € 1.21 billion. This sum represented 84.13% out of total revised budget of the Ministry of Health. Originally the state approved for 2011 for its policyholders the sum in amount of € 1.97 billion. As stated by the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Health, Zuzana Čižmáriková, during the year the insurance settlement of the state for 2010 was increased by the amount of € 9.7 million.
Until September 30, 2012 it is possible to apply for the change of health insurance company. Until this date Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská should submit the proceeding and flowchart of creation of one insurance company. Insurance companies Dôvera and Union claim that intention of Government to buy or expropriate them will not affect their campaigns. Shareholders of both private insurance companies say that they do not want to leave Slovakia. Government have not negotiated with them yet.
