Tag: hospitals

Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) could get more money from new way of risk-adjusted redistribution of insurance contributions between health insurance companies for the first time in October this year. This should by brought by the amendment to the Act on health insurance submitted to the Parliament by Richard Raši. Risk adjustment should be calculated by the Healthcare Surveillance Authority.

Although Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa – VšZP (General Health Insurance Company) offered additional sources to some hospitals. In last year, however, VšZP spent on hospitals 8% less than the year before. While in 2010 the VšZP's costs on inpatient health care reached more than € 815 million, last year it was only € 752 million. The biggest health insurance company decreased its expenses also on pharmaceuticals in 2011, aproximately by the same rate. Otherwise, costs on outpatient care and medical devices increased, in both cases by about 4%.

Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská continued this week in the personal changes in the state-run organizations. Changes thus took place on further directors´ posts in hospitals. New head of the MoH noticed the main hygienist and directors of hospitals in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica, Žilina, Prešov and Košice and directors of some emergency services. Zvolenská according to the spokeswoman of the Ministry prefers the experts with practice and she installed in the managerial posts people, who were addicted to this issue long-termly and are seen as experts in their field.

Debt in healthcare system has decreased last year almost by € 131.2 million thanks to the bail-out of the state-owned hospitals. At the end of last year the debt was € 154.01 million. This results from the report on the development of debts in the health sector. Hospitals in the scope of self-governmental units have the biggest problem with indebtedness and they owe the most to the suppliers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

According to the head of the Association of Hospitals in Slovakia, Marián Petko, from June there will be a threat of dismissals of nurses and cancellation of departments in hospitals. Costs of small hospitals on wages are already now in amount of 85% of their total costs. After further raise of salaries of doctors in July hospitals will have to use all their resources on salaries. Petko urged nurses for a compromise, for example that the wages would increase gradually. 

Hospitals, which did not increase the salaries of nurses in accordance with applicable legislation, are afraid of the sanctions. One of the threats is a Labour Inspectorate, which may impose penalty for violation of labour law. Problems, however, might be also caused by insurance companies. Control of the fulfilment of personnel norms falls within the competency of health insurance companies. These may, after finding of the failings, access to different measures, for example also to the termination of their contractual relationship.

Management of hospital in Poprad signed a new contract with health insurance company Dôvera. Hospital will thus provide the Dôvera policyholders not only with acute care, but also with the planned operations. After publishing in central register of contracts the contract will enter into force on Saturday, April 14th. According to the director of hospital the new contract conditions constitutes the compromise between insurance company and hospital.

Representatives of hospital in Poprad and health insurance company Dôvera negotiated on the new contract again. Both sides are allegedly finalizing the last details of agreement and are preparing themselves for its conclusion. Hospital in Poprad is from April the 1st non-contractual provider of health care for Dôvera policyholders. Hospital in Poprad is the only one healthcare institution which did not make an agreement with Dôvera on a new contract. 

Salaries of nurses in hospital in Malacky are from April not in accordance with law. Hospital for now does not increase the salaries to the minimum level of € 640 granted by the law, as, according to its director, hospital does not have resources for it. Management of hospital offered nurses the amendments to their contracts, which divided their duty for medical and administrative part. Nurses refused it, so the original contracts remain in force. Hospital is now expecting the visit from the labour inspectorate, which will examine whether the wage situation is in accordance with the law. 

Since April nurses and midwives have a statutory entitlement for higher salaries. Hospital in Nitra will, according to its director, respect the law, but if hospital does not reach an agreement with health insurance companies, hospital will get into debt. This will start by delaying of payments for suppliers. Faculty hospital in Nitra is currently employing 558 nurses and 38 midwives. From April 1st the personnel costs on their wages will increase by approximately € 120 000 monthly.