BRATISLAVA, November 2, (WEBNOVINY) — Transformation of the legal form of state-run hospitals in Slovakia to joint-stock companies will in all probability continue. Defense Minister Lubomir Galko (SaS) reported after the Cabinet’s session on Wednesday that they more-or-less agreed to go ahead with the process. Over twenty large facilities should undergo transformation by the end of this year while another eight should be transformed next year. Galko added that he got a promise that a memorandum on debt settlement signed by hospitals’ creditors and the transformation commission will be published. Also Prime Minister Iveta Radicova spoke about the topic after her ministers finished for Wednesday. She said that President Ivan Gasparovic does not have any major objections to continuation the transformation process. She reiterated that the change in legal form does not mean privatization. She underscored that the discussion has not been closed yet about the most advanced medical facilities. Halting the transformation is one of four basic demands on which over two thousand protesting doctors condition withdrawal of their notices that expire at the end of this month.
According to the presidential spokesman, Marek Trubac, President Ivan Gasparovic still wants to speak about the transformation with the prime minister and representatives of hospitals or doctors. The head of state however does not consider this process closed, said Trubac adding that the president says neither ‘yes’ nor ‘no’ to the transformation. Nevertheless, Gasparovic thinks that the decision on the transformation which he deems a serious intervention in the future of Slovakia’s healthcare should be made by a government formed after next year’s early elections.
In October, the opposition SMER-SD tried to stop the transformation in parliament; its MP and former Health Minister Richard Rasi submitted a draft amendment to the relevant law, yet the parliament did not discuss his draft.
The revision to the law on health insurance companies, which took effect in April of this year, facilitates transformation of state-run hospitals into joint stock companies. Hospitals have time to do so by the end of the year, but the deadline can be moved up by six months in justified cases. The state will be a founder and a 100-percent shareholder of the future joint-stock companies and the Health Ministry or a respective ministry, e.g. the Transport or Defense Ministry, will act on their behalf in specific cases. New joint stock companies will be responsible for all liabilities and claims as well as obligations toward employees. Altogether 31 facilities, for which the parliament already approved 350 million euro to settle their debts, are to undergo transformation.
SITA