New rules for outpatient ER facilities

Outpatient ER facilities will work according to new rules as of this July. Around 130 of them should form the so-called fixed network spreading right across the country and opening between 2pm and 10pm during the working week. An additional network will complement it with flexible opening hours. They are supposed to offer medical services after the regular opening hours of GPs and pediatricians and will not replace classical ER departments at hospitals or the ambulance service. Those in the fixed network will receive a monthly lump sum of about €8,000 from healthcare insurance companies, in addition to the regular coverage of medical procedures, according to the Health Ministry's decision.

The Health Ministry has already started looking for facilities willing to join the fixed network. Health Minister Andrea Kalavská admits she does not know how large the level of interest will be from the healthcare providers' side but says that the monthly lump sum should serve as good motivation to join. The Association of Slovak Hospitals, of which 71 smaller healthcare facilities are members, initially said it would not be interested in joining but later changed its mind on the provision that "some conditions are to be discussed with the Health Ministry".