But the parliament is to decide on the bill yet. The left-wing opposition Social Democrats and Communists (KSCM) are against the regulatory fees newly introduced in health care. The government coalition, however, is not united on the fees either.
The junior partners of the Civic Democrats (ODS) - the Greens (SZ) and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) want to abolish some of them. Since European doctors support protests against Czech health reform ...
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Czech court adjourns debate on health fees indefinitely ...
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Czech civilian intelligence to be reinforced by 46 new employees ... January, Czechs have paid 30 crowns per visit to a doctor and per item on a prescription, 90 crowns for after hours and 60 crowns per day in hospital. The coalition leaders are to discuss the fees this evening. Last week, the Constitutional Court rejected the CSSD complaint against the fees. The CSSD proposed that the fees be abolished either for all citizens or for at least some groups - youths, pensioners and the poor. The battle over the health fees will now return to parliament. The next session of the Chamber of Deputies is to discuss a KDU-CSL proposal under which newborns should not pay for their stay in maternity hospitals. Health Minister Tomas Julinek (ODS) does not want to limit the fees in any way. He only admitted that they could be lifted for children under 3. The Health Ministry claims that the measure achieved its purpose as the fees reduced the number pointless visits to doctors and the number of medicines prescribed. But the critics say for the poor the fees become a barrier, limiting their access to health care.
(Ceske Noviny)
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