Medical Chamber head rejects rationing of health care

The head of the Czech Medical Chamber has rejected rationing of healthcare in hospitals in the closing months of the year as apparently funds dry up. Chamber president Milan Kubek delayed operations and longer waiting lists should be rejected as funds were available. He said that health insurers had 18 billion crowns in reserves and it was a political decision whether to use this money or not. He added that the fact that 2 billion crowns more was spent on healthcare in the first 10 months of the year compared with the same period in 2009 was proof that funding could be found. The health minister has indicated that delayed operations are possible if funds and doctors are short.

Author: Chris Johnstone