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From now the prescribing doctor should bear the responsibility for prescription of unregistered human pharmaceuticals. For therapeutic use of such pharmaceuticals also the previous written informed approval of patient should be required. This results from the proposal of the amendment to the act on pharmaceuticals and medical devices made by Ministry of Health, which was shifted to the second reading by members of Parliament. Legislation measure strengthens the supervision over human pharmaceutical, supervision over the market and sanctions for non-compliance with the relevant provisions.

Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance company) suspects outpatient doctors - who announced that if they do not get more money, they will not sign the new contracts - from cartel agreement and prepares the suggestion to the Antimonopoly Office. VšZP started to send doctors the amendments with increased prices before the end of validity of current contract and believes that they will face the proposal correctly and responsibly. According to the VšZP, even the possible mandate contract for representation does not exempt doctors from the possibility to decide. Doctors, according to the VšZP, may sign the amendment separately, regardless to the decision of their professional organizations.

Outpatient doctors do not want to accept the offer of Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company). Current contracts are valid only until the end of the month. Slovak Medical Chamber, Association of Private Doctors and Association of General Practitioners for Children and Adolescents, which together represents about 70% of outpatient doctors, are asking the insurance company for increasing of payments on the level of 20%. Insurance company, however, only offers the resources from the reserve. Associations therefore advise doctors not to sign the contracts.

From July, 72 employees from hospitals in Levice and Topoľčany will lose their jobs. The dismissing is related to the saving measures, forced by the increasing of wages of doctors and nurses. Hospitals belong to Nitra self-governmental region, which controls them through its non-profit organization. Each hospital will dismiss 36 people, mostly the office workers and lower health care professionals. 

Act on minimum wage claims of nurses and midwives is on the Constitutional Court. The initiative to review its constitutionality was on Monday filed by the General Prosecutor's Office. Office also wants the Court to temporarily stop the force of law. Prosecution attacks its conception, which is, according to it, not in accordance with the Constitution. Prosecution argues that in order to ensure the constitutionality protection it is necessary to take into account the fact, whether there are real conditions for enforcement of the law or not.

From October 2012 there should be 5 209 pharmaceuticals available on Slovak market. The reimbursement list will be enlarged by 107 new pharmaceuticals. Ministry of Health estimates €60 million savings in pharmaceutical policy from October 1st, 2012 to October 1st, 2013. Ministry encourages the doctors to consistently follow the rational prescription, prescribe pharmaceuticals without co-payment or with minimum co-payment.

President Ivan Gašparovič signed the amendment to the Act on Health Insurance, which introduces the new mechanism of risk-adjusted premium redistribution. This step should bring additional almost €30 million annualy to state Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company). This will be paid by the private insurance companies Dôvera (almost €22 million) and Union (€8.7 million). New re-distribution scheme will enter into force in July. 

Patients may have to pay out of pocket for the treatment in the outpatient clinics. Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP, General Health Insurance Company) and insurance company Union were not able to make an agreement with doctors on new contracts from July 1st. VšZP offers 6.5% increase of monthly payments to general practitioners and 5% to specialists, while doctors are asking for 20%. Insurance companies claim that requirements of doctors do not meet their resources.

Health insurance companies will refund to policyholders more co-payments for pharmaceuticals than before. This is the result of the extension of so called "protection limit on co-payments for pharmaceuticals". For first quarter the health insurance companies will refund the co-payments in amount of € 1.4 million to 64 043 policyholders. About two thirds of them are retired, the rest are handicapped. In last quarter of 2011 the amount of €87 592 was refunded to 5 834 people. 

According to the common statement of private physicians the prices, which were offered by the health insurance companies, are not acceptable for health care providers. Costs of private outpatient clinics, which arose also by increasing of salaries of nurses and doctors, are not included in the proposals of new contracts with Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) and private insurance company Union. The representatives of Slovak Medical Chamber and civic association of private physicians Zdravita will meet on Monday June 25th and will agree on further proceeding.