Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Hlas-SD) confirmed that he will submit a set of legislative proposals stemming from the Government's deal with the Doctors Labour Union (LOZ) at Wednesday's (January 29) session of the government.
Sasko hopes that Parliament will not have any problem with passing them.
The Minister pointed out that both the opposition and coalition had stated during the time of talks with LOZ that the measures were legitimate. "I can't predict anything, but I hope that Parliament won't have a problem with getting these bills passed," he said.
The additional costs that are to arise in the sector will be covered by resources already present in the public health insurance budgeting today. "There won't be any increased expenditure from the public finances' point of view," he added, underlining that the deal involves systematic steps for a more transparent and efficient health sector.
Representatives of the medical section of the Association of Employers (AZZZ) warned on Tuesday that if the health bills are passed in the form as agreed on by the government and LOZ, Slovakia will run the risk of seeing its health sector collapse. AZZZ also warns of financial impacts that will be felt primarily by patients.
According to LOZ head Peter Visolajsky, the aim of the bill is to ensure compliance with the legislation already in effect.
The LOZ head underlined that in case of the AZZZ a potential conflict of interest might exist and if the bills don't get passed as agreed, thousands of doctors will leave hospitals en masse.
Visolajsky stated that represented in the AZZZ are mostly hospitals owned by financial groups. "Therefore, let's not be surprised by their statements because the bills set to come into Parliament, which we negotiated with the [health] minister, are designed to bring more transparency and order into the financing of hospitals and that, of course, is not really to the benefit of the two financial groups in the Slovak health sector," he said.
According to their press department coalition member, Smer-SD is ready to support the health-care bills in parliament.
"After they are approved by the government, the bills will be submitted to Parliament, and then we can comment on them precisely. Nevertheless, Smer MPs are ready to back the laws that are approved by the government," said their spokesperson.
The junior governing party SNS will back healthcare-related bills stemming from the government's agreement with the Medical Trade Union (LOZ), said the party spokesperson on Tuesday.
"SNS will support these laws. We believe that Hlas-SD will finally agree on the name of the House chair and that NGOs will be discussed as well," said SNS spokesperson.
The opposition PS party is ready to help pass bills in Parliament next week if an agreement is reached on the date of a snap election, PS leader Michal Simecka told a news conference on Tuesday, adding that the decision is not final yet.
According to Simecka, it makes no sense for the opposition to help a government that has lost its majority in Parliament. "There's a need to ask the government whether it's able to govern and adopt laws or not. If it admits that is doesn't have a majority to approve those health-care bills, we are ready to help only to prevent doctors from leaving Slovakia, but let's agree on the date of a snap election," stated the PS leader.
According to SaS party leader Branislav Groehling, SaS MPs will not present themselves at the next session of parliament but will wait to see if the government has a majority and will be able to open it. "If there is a need to support the draft laws, we will be constructive, we will support them, but on the condition that we agree on a snap election," stated Groehling.
So far the opposition KDH party is undecided if they will support the changes to the health care legislation.
The Health Minister on behalf of the government signed an agreement on social reconciliation in the health-care sector with LOZ in December 2024. The government committed itself to meeting several demands of the medical trade union within it. The signing of the agreement prevented hospitals from collapsing due to the resignation notices filed by more than 3,300 doctors. Doctors have continued to work in hospitals under certain conditions, and the government is obliged to meet them by the end of February 2025.
Source: TASR
