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Healthcare reforms could upset patients
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November 28th, 2007 issue

There’s no question that folks in the Czech Republic like their doctors.

Patients here visit the doctor’s office more than any others in the European Union — 13 times per year on average, accoring to the Czech Statistical Office. By contrast, Italians and Poles go to the doctor about six times per year on average; Americans visit the doctor about four times per year, according to National Center for Health Statistics.
That could all change quickly, when a new law goes into effect Jan. 1 that requires patients to start paying 30 Kč ($1.67) per visit. Already, patients have started grumbling about whether or not they currently receive high enough quality care to pay for it (emergency room visits will cost 90 Kč; hospital stays will cost 60 Kč per day).
Others complain that corresponding cuts to the health system could hurt overall medical quality. Some doctors have also complained, calling for a total overhaul of the payment system to make patients more responsible for costs rather than insurers.
Politicians already know that making needed social welfare reforms is going to cause some pain.
But, if people have to pay, they’re less likely to go to the doctor every time they have a sniffle, for example, which will save money on doctors, drugs and hospital stays, according to Health Minister Tomáš Julínek.
It won’t be easy. Payment methods are still being discussed, just a month before the new system is slated to start.
On a larger scale, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has been counting on recent rapid economic growth to soften the blow of reform. He knows this healthcare change will have some of the biggest effects of any his government has made since it took office.
Analysts agree that now is the best time to make needed changes. Salaries have risen steadily across the board for working Czechs in recent years, and most can afford to take on the extra costs.
The people we worry about are the pensioners, who have not seen a rise in their monthly living payments and who are most likely to need health services. Predicted inflation in energy prices and in common consumer goods could also quickly sour voters’ moods.
Topolánek’s pro-reform government knows this, and a second package of suggested tax reforms is on hold until officials see how the health reforms go over.
We applaud officials for doing the politically unpopular but right thing and stepping up to the plate to deal with spending issues. Topolánek is right to focus on public finances and a stable budget to reduce the deficit.
But we also encourage the government to look to other places in its budget to figure out where else officials can cut spending. Officials can also pass a reform package to govern themselves and vow to follow it – starting with a tougher competition system for public tenders.
If voters feel confident that they can trust the government, there will be a lot less turmoil in accepting needed social welfare changes.


Other articles in Opinion (28/11/2007):

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