Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
The evaluation of Slovak hospitals by clients of the private health insurer Dôvera slightly improved last year, when it rose from 1.72 in 2014 to 1.66 in 2015 (on the scale where 1 is the best and 5 is the worst). The survey showed that the most satisfied are patients hospitalised in eastern Slovakia, the TASR newswire reported.
The results for the past five years have been very similar, according to Martin Kultan, head of Dôvera.
“Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse, but Slovak patients are more or less equally satisfied with health care, though we would welcome a slight increase,” Kultan said, as quoted by TASR.
The regional differences are not big. The best situation is in Prešov Region, while the most dissatisfied were patients in Trenčín and Nitra Regions.
As for the specific facilities, the best evaluation in category of teaching hospitals went to the Central Military Hospital SNP in Ružomberok (Žilina Region), while in the group of general hospitals the St Michael Hospital in Bratislava scored the best. The best among specialised health facilities last year was Kardiocentrum Nitra, while in the category of other health facilities the best scores were received by the Institute of Nuclear and Molecular Medicine.
On the other hand, the worst grades went to the University Hospital Bratislava, General Hospital with Polyclinics in Veľký Krtíš (Banská Bystrica Region), the Psychiatric Hospital of Philippe Pinel in Pezinok (Bratislava Region), and Gemerclinic in Hnúšťa (Banská Bystrica Region).
Meanwhile, also state-run health insurer Všeobecná Zdravotná Poisťovňa (VšZP) published a ranking of hospitals. The best grades went to ORL in Humenné (Prešov Region), Kardiocentrum in Nitra and Mammacentrum of St Agatha ProCare in Banská Bystrica.
On the other end of the list are Teaching Hospital with Polyclinics in Žilina, Hospital with Polyclinics of St Lucas in Galanta (Trnava Region), and Gemerclinic Hnúšťa.
Unlike Dôvera, VšZP did not divide the facilities into specific categories, TASR wrote.
The Dôvera survey also revealed that patients are still critical of the hospital food. They graded it with 2.10, while in 2014 it was 2.25. On the other hand, they are satisfied with doctors. This category received the grade of 1.45, while in 2014 it was 1.54.
It also suggests that younger clients are more critical of their hospitalisation. Similarly to the previous ranking, the worst grades were granted by patients aged 18-37. Moreover, women are more critical than men, the survey confirmed, as reported by TASR.
Bratislava’s hospital lacks money
The reason why the University Hospital Bratislava appeared among the worst facilities is the lack of finances, said its spokesperson Zuzana Eliášová.
“We have been pointing to the fact that the hospital does not have finances to improve the environment and quality of some so-called hotel services for long,” she said, as quoted by the Hospodárske Noviny daily.
The patients often notice in what state the chamber they are hospitalised in is. The clean environment and modern equipment are some of the conditions for patient satisfaction, said INEKO think tank analyst Dušan Zachar.
“If a hospital generates losses, there is no money left for reconstruction,” Zachar told Hospodárske Noviny.
Disclaimer: Dôvera is owned by the Penta financial group which has a 45-share in Petit Press, the co-owner of The Slovak Spectator.
