Health Minister hopes to have hospital debt relief passed in autumn

Health Minister Tomáš Drucker (Smer-SD) believes that debt relief for hospitals could be approved after the summer break, according to the TASR press agency. Originally, the Cabinet was slated to deliberate on the scheme to pay off debts on behalf of hospitals back in late June. Money from state financial assets reaching up to €585 million is due to be used for the debt relief, which Drucker wants to launch in the autumn. The scheme is to apply both to state-owned and non-state health facilities, and it's scheduled to be carried out in several stages. The money is to be paid to those willing to comply with revival plans. The plan has already been criticised by health equipment suppliers, who make up the bulk of hospital creditors. They take objection to the fact that the state expects discounts from them as part of the debt relief, and the Slovak Association of Health Equipment Suppliers perceives some of the anticipated discounts as being unreal from an economic point of view. Because of this, the association has encouraged its members to consider whether to participate in the scheme or seek legal action instead. The country's health debt swelled to €647.24 million in 2016, with the majority of the sum (€547.16 million) owned by state university and faculty hospitals which are managed by the Health Ministry.