Opposition Smer appeals to PM Dzurinda to solve chaos in healthcare

The Opposition Smer party appeals to Premier Mikulas Dzurinda to consider the current chaos in the healthcare sector as of equal importance to finishing his term in office, Smer chairman Robert Fico said at a news conference on Wednesday in Bratislava. Smer expects objective solutions to be forthcoming. It also hopes that Dzurinda will not try to cover the problems and look for culprit(s) among the Opposition, Fico said, alluding to the accusation earlier this month that opposition parties had fomented the crisis involving physicians refusing to sign contracts with health insurers. "The current problems in healthcare show that patients and healthcare workers have become hostages of Dzurinda's Cabinet, thanks to the failure of healthcare reforms, and Dzurinda's inability to admit radical mistakes," added Fico.

In addition, Fico appealed to healthcare workers not to go on strike. "Smer is preparing to solve these problems and will make system changes in the healthcare sector if the party is a part of the next Government after the June 17 general election," he declared. According to Smer shadow health care minister Pavol Paska, the healthcare sector needs more money and Smer wants to accommodate the sector. Therefore, it plans to approve a new bill on insurance companies, optimise the chain of healthcare facilities, and, meanwhile, it plans to forego a revenue source for providers by cancelling the healthcare user fees.