BRATISLAVA, July 12, (SITA) — Plans of Prime Minister Robert Fico who intends to have a single health insurance company in Slovakia are becoming more distinct. When assessing the first hundred days of his government on Thursday he stated that a schedule for submitting legislative proposals in connection with this aim should be known shortly. “I have a meeting with the health minister today and I will likely agree with her today on a time schedule for submitting proposals to the cabinet in the matter of establishing one health insurer,” said the prime minister.
Fico started playing with the idea of a buyout of stakes in two private health insurers recently. According to him the profit of the private health insurer Dovera approximately equals the government reserve that was dissolved to give a pay rise to doctors and nurses. In 2011, Dovera took EUR 40 million from public sources and thus the state should rush to buy out the private health insurers, stated Fico. One public service health insurance company is the best solution for Slovakia, he believes. Fico wants to discuss how the acquisition could take place and about the value of the health insurers.
The smallest health insurer Union ZP completely dismissed the idea of quitting the Slovak public insurance market. Penta that owns Dovera did not comment on Fico’s statements. According to spokesman for the group Martin Danko it is however willing to meet with Fico and discuss the plan.
SITA
