A number of hospitals reject the intention to introduce a criminal offence for failing to provide sufficient number of medical staff, stating proposal does not address the situation with the shortage of paramedics and is disrespectful to hospital directors, wrote TASR press agency.
According to Miriam Lapuníková, the director of the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banská Bystrica, non-compliance with staffing norms is not the intention of the managers. However it is the result of a desperate shortage of selected categories of employees on the labour market. In her opinion, if the proposal is adopted, the state should first of all ensure sufficient staff.
The University Hospital Bratislava (UNB) cannot imagine who would perform the function of a statutory officer in the hospital under these conditions. "At the moment we do not know the full wording of this proposal, but as some lawyers have already expressed, the introduction of this measure would be unique in the world," hospital spokeswoman Eva Kliská told TASR. According to her, the statutory body has limited means if medical staff decide to leave the hospital and must respect the freedom of choice of employer.
The Louis Pasteur University Hospital (UNLP) Košice did not comment on the plan. "We do not have further information on the amendment to the law, only that which is conveyed by the media. Therefore, we cannot comment on the issue at this time," hospital spokeswoman Monika Krišková told TASR.
The Justice Ministry proposes to introduce a new offence of endangering the provision of health care in an amendment to the Criminal Code. It is to consist of a deliberate breach of the obligation to provide sufficient medical staff. The proposal is based on a memorandum on the improvement of health care between the Slovak government and the Medical Trade Union Association.
The intention has been criticised by the interim Prime Minister Eduard Heger, the Prosecutor General Maroš Žilinka, the interim Justice Minister Viliam Karas, some politicians, lawyers and the Slovak Medical Chamber. The head of the medical trade union, Peter Visolajský, claims that the change would increase patient safety and that it will not lead to the arrests of innocent directors.
Source: TASR
