Czech health care to run into debts without reform - VZP head

Without a reform or unexpected economic growth the health care system will lack 6-8 billion crowns in 2010, the paper writes.

In 2011, the Czech state would have to pay the rising debts because the health insurers will not have money to cover them anymore.

In this situation the care covered from the health insurance would have to be markedly limited, Deputy Health Minister Marek Snajdr (Civic Democrats, ODS) said.

Health insurers receive less money because the number of the unemployed has been going up and the salaries will remain on the same level or even fall. Moreover, the number of pensioners is likely to increase.

Some 140 billion crowns are to go to the health care from the in 2010, same as this year when the health insurers will have to pay 6-7 billion from their reserve funds, Horak said.

Due to accumulating debts the availability of Czech health care had to be limited already in 2005-2006, with patients waiting for operations longer and reductions in expensive care. The state then earmarked extra 20 billion crowns for health care but during the current economic downturn this can hardly be repeated, the paper writes.

"It is totally unrealistic to expect the state that has record high debts to solve the situation in health care again," Snajdr said, pointing to next year's draft state budget deficit of 160 billion crowns.

The Civic Democratic Party plans to make it possible for the citizens to pay higher insurance that would cover more care if they win the spring elections.

The Social Democrats (CSSD) say they would agree with such a change that would bring more money to the health care system.

(USD1=17.262 crowns)

Autor: ČTK
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