The opposition Civic Democratic Party says the crisis in the health
sector must be dealt with immediately. The party leader Mirek Topolanek
said at a press briefing in Prague on Tuesday that the government's
irresponsible reforms of the health sector were both destructive for
the system and dangerous for patients. Corrective action must be taken
without delay, the country cannot afford to wait until the June general
elections, Mr. Topolanek said. Private practitioners, dentists,
pharmacists and some hospitals have called a protest demonstration
against the government's health reforms on Friday. The health minister
claims that the situation in the health sector has now radically
improved and that Friday's protest is a political gesture orchestrated
by the opposition Civic Democrats.