The Slovak cabinet decided to put the debate over the situation in the healthcare sector on hold on May 16.
The discussions concern proposals made by Health Minister Ivan Valentovič, who was tasked with offering some measures to try to improve the situation in the country’s heavily indebted health sector. One of Valentovič’s suggestions was the introduction of a system of a single state-run health insurance company, even though he knew that Smer's ruling coalition partners are against it.
Valentovič believes that it is still possible that the ruling Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and Slovak National Party might change their position on the issue. The coalition partners will discuss the proposals until May 23, when the cabinet will resume its debate on the issue. It is expected that the cabinet will make a final decision on that day also.
According to the plan, policyholders and the assets of private health insurers, which were acquired from public health insurance funds, should be shifted to a single public health insurance company.
However, Valentovič said this would not be an act of nationalization. He said that if coalition partners agree on using only one health insurance company, only legislative mechanisms that fully comply with the constitution would be used.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
