Paediatricians are concerned and outraged by the happenings in Parliament, pointing out that not adopting the changes for paediatrics will have an impact on the range of health care provided. The Slovak Society of Primary Paediatric Care of the Slovak Medical Association once again called on politicians to address the situation in paediatrics.
Paediatricians expressed their indignation at the unsuccessful opening of Thursday's special session, at which, among other things, MPs were supposed to vote on shortening the opening hours of outpatient emergency departments and on increasing fees for visiting outpatient emergency departments. In this context, they again called on politicians to assume responsibility and join in saving the "sinking ship".
"In the event that the session isn't opened on Friday and no measures are taken - regardless of the official statements of politicians why and for what, we'll take note of the fact that the politicians of this country have left the paediatricians to arrange things for themselves. We'll be forced to prepare such measures that will allow us to ensure at least the basic and urgent functioning of health care for children," said the paediatricians. They warn that in places where the situation is intolerable, it won't be possible to provide health care on the same scale as before.
Health Minister Michal Palkovic voiced his sadness over the fact that Parliament was not quorate enough to open an extraordinary session on Thursday. As he said, he would still attempt to explain to lawmakers the need to pass measures to stabilise paediatricians. Palkovic pointed out that the bill will introduce steeper fines for the inappropriate use of emergency department human resources. "I understand that the primary outpatient segment has its own problems, but that doesn't mean we can accept the overburdening of hospital doctors," he accentuated and pointed out that the timing of the situation is less than fortunate due to the upcoming election. However, the urgency of the situation behoves the ministry to provide first aid to the system, until new paediatricians can join in. "There are no other alternatives left," he said.
Source: TASR
