Hospitals face confiscations

Since the beginning of January, Slovak hospitals with debts are no longer protected by the law, and are now threatened with the confiscation of their property, Sme daily reports. Hospitals in Dunajska Streda, Galanta, Skalica and Samorin (all Trnava region) face 40 such individual confiscation's, in order to settle debts that were incurred before the end of 2002. "Lawyers dealing with medical facilities observe the law, which (now) doesn't restrict the reclaiming of debts in favour of the creditor," said lawyer Ladislav Bango from Trnava. However, there is an rule of ethics, according to which such action should not be allowed to threaten the health of patients. "First we try to set up a repayment timetable. If this is not possible, we seize removable property and real estate," said Bango.