Trade unions warn against restrictions of health care access

Czech health workers’ trade unions on Friday warned against planned restrictions of access to health care. Union leaders called on Health Minister Leoš Heger to reconsider the move; in support of their demands, the unions will stage a rally outside the health ministry building on March 27, the head of the union Dagmar Žitníková said.

The Health Ministry is planning to overhaul the system of providing health care so that patients have guaranteed access to all specialists within 40 minutes’ drive from their homes. The unions say however this will drastically restrict health care in the regions, and will in effect lead to the closing down of hospitals, polyclinics as well as doctors’ practices.

Author: Jan Richter