Czech Republic: Leaky ship cripples health services - by Pavel Vepřek
"Compared to what’s evident in other post-communist countries, our health service is functioning wonderfully and is, in essence, capable of securing the availability of necessary health care for all citizens. In fact, in certain areas, as with infant mortality for example, the service manages to achieve results on the same level to those achieved in the world’s top league. Also, with respect to its indebtedness, things aren’t as bad as they sound.
The financing of the health care system was transferred from the state to insurance companies that compete with each other, and the provision of health services was interspersed between different independent entities. With the introduction of modern technologies into a prepared environment, we’ve at least technically caught up with the developed world; for some time it seemed that the Czech health service wouldn’t only serve as a good example of successfully conducted reform, but would also become a destination of choice for foreign patients not satisfied with the services provided to them at home. It wasn’t, alas, to happen. In response to yet more changes — which were lacking momentum anyway — weariness had set in, and a growing nostalgia calling for past certainties meant that the reform was given some time out for rest on the bench."
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