Judges voted eight to seven in favor of the controversial healthcare fee issue on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Justice Eliška Wagnerová said that rulings which substantially changes Czech legislation, require nine voices to pass, However, the 8-7 decision will stand because it cannot be considered to be precedent-setting, she said.

The ruling is a mandate to continue with health reforms, said Health Minister Tomáš Julínek. But children under the age of three may be exempted from paying the fees, he added.

Court officials deemed that a negative ruling would have closed the door to further efforts to reform the healthcare system, according to the verdict. They advised politicians and others who were unhappy with the ruling to seek changes through the democratic election process. 

Opposition Social Democrats and Communist Party deputies, who filed a lawsuit against Julinek at the court, vowed to discontinue the payments if they win in the 2010 parliamentary election.