According to Prime Minister Robert Fico the court dispute between Slovakia and Dutch company Achmea, the owner of private health-insurer Union, isn't over yet, so criticising the Government for its potential consequences is unjustified. He said so on RTVS's televised political discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' ('5 Minutes to 12') on Sunday. The company filed a lawsuit against Slovakia over the controversial legislation which prevented privately-owned public health insurers from retaining profits or distributing them to shareholders.
The law was passed by Fico’s 2006-10 Government. According to the International Court of Arbitration Slovakia must now pay €30 million to Achmea for what it called a violation of the provisions of the investment treaty between Slovakia and the Netherlands. However, Prime Minister argues the Government has not changed its opinion and still believes that private health-insurers should not receive money from compulsory health insurance, because these financial means should be used only for the purpose of health care. “Not for purchasing yachts and private jets for the owners of private health-insurers,” said Fico. The Achmea versus Slovakia case which is still on-going has cost Slovakia so far €13 million. When asked why Achmea has paid only €3 million for the same service, Fico replied that he doesn't know all the details.
