Wednesday, 29. February 2012, 16:31

Medical Trade Union submitted a new Code of Ethics and the proposal of anti-corruption measures. Their working out was undertaken in the agreement with Government, which stopped the last years protest actions of physicians. For the violation of the Code Union also wants to punish its members. According to the Code, for example, doctor may not compel the patient to the bribe, or take it from him. One of the anti-corruption measures is also a proposal that each patient can choose the doctor in hospital and charge for this choice would be divided between hospital and doctor. 

Wednesday, 29. February 2012, 16:29

Small hospitals are not able to get sufficient funds for increasing of salaries of doctors and nurses. Situation is reportedly becoming critical. According to head of Association of Hospitals in Slovakia Marián Petko hospitals are not able to handle the situation. Improving of wages of doctors and nurses will cause the situation when approximately 80% of all revenues from health insurance companies will be used for salaries. Healthcare prociders, however, claim that they also have to buy pharmaceuticals and other goods. If they do not get more money, they will reportedly not be able to provide the treatment of patients.

Wednesday, 29. February 2012, 16:26

Spa Vyšné Ružbachy established the first Centre of complex cardiovascular rehabilitation in Slovakia. Its services respond to the recommendations of European group for cardiac rehabilitation, as well as the Working Group of cardiovascular rehabilitation of Slovak Cardiologic Society. The main task of the Centre is to provide the follow-up treatment and cardiovascular rehabilitation for patients after myocardial infarction and heart surgeries.

Wednesday, 29. February 2012, 16:24

Besides Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) and Dôvera also Union health insurance company is planning to forward its old claims to Slovenská konsolidačná (debt consolidation company). Under the agreement between ministries and insurance companies the insurance company Union may forward the claims in the maximum amount of € 10 million and will get 22% of their value. According to its spokeswoman Union soon plans to forward some claims from years 2007 – 2008.

Wednesday, 29. February 2012, 16:23

Minister of Health wants the have a clear overview about how many pharmaceuticals are spend in the healthcare and how much they cost. Project Register of Consumption worth € 1.24 million was, however, implemented only in some state-owned hospitals. Minister reportedly chose only those hospitals, where at least one of the hospital systems comes from the company Stapro, which developed also the new system. Hospitals reportedly received instructions from the Ministry about whose system should be used in project.

Monday, 27. February 2012, 22:59

After the Association of Suppliers of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices also the Slovak Association of Pharmaceutical Companies oriented to the Research and Development is asking for enforcement of control mechanism on pharmaceutical export from Slovakia. The reason of increased consumption of pharmaceuticals is reportedly their re-export to foreign countries.

Monday, 27. February 2012, 22:54

Hospitals with policyholders mainly from private insurance companies do not know how to get money for higher salaries of doctors. Private insurance companies, unlike the Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa, did not increase the resources. The Association of Slovak Hospitals repeatedly asked the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance to release € 50 million from the reserve in the state budget. The Association will ask for opening of this year's state budget for additional financing.

Saturday, 25. February 2012, 16:06

In recent months several hospitals increased the fees, or introduced new ones. Women in childbed will pay the most for the hospital services, in some cases it could be even several hundreds of euros. For example University hospital in Bratislava, according to the new pricelist, increased the fee not only for selection of the obstetrician, but also for the father's presence at the birth. According to the spokeswoman of hospital the revaluation is based on the market research of other providers.

Saturday, 25. February 2012, 16:03

Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives appealed on the nursing sisters in nursing homes, in the case if their employers do not increase their wages from April, to stop providing the nursing care. Chamber is concerned that employer can do so, because these nursing sisters according to the law definition do not provide the health care, but only ensure it. Chamber also advises these sisters to start only ensuring the health care. It means that they would only call the doctor or emergency service, or send the client of the nursing home to hospital. 

Saturday, 25. February 2012, 16:00

Hospitals associated in the Association of Hospitals in Slovakia claim that salaries of doctors and nurses wlll take up to 80% of total revenues. According to the President of the Association Marián Petko, if the Government does not increase the resources, since May hospitals will not be able to provide the health care and in June they will collapse. He also warned that if the wages of other healthcare professionals increase, hospitals will have to use all the money from health insurance companies only for salaries.