An additional €365 million should flow into the Slovak health-care sector this year, Finance Minister Igor Matovic announced at a news conference on Tuesday. Higher payments for state policyholders should bring in €100 million, and the share capital of state-run health-insurer Vseobecna zdravotna poistovna should be boosted by €120 million. The remaining €145 million should be provided by a better collection of insurance payments.
Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky added that today's agreement is just the beginning. Further measures are to be taken in terms of a better redistribution of money between insurance companies as well as measures to ensure that the money to be used by patients is actually received by them.
Hospitals, outpatient departments, trade unions and patient representatives have all repeatedly asked for additional funding for the health care sector. Small and medium-sized hospitals that are members of the Slovak Hospitals Association are also threatening to terminate contracts with the state insurance or all health insurance companies due to a lack of funds. The same step was also taken by outpatient doctors in the case of state-run VsZP.
