Even a ruling by the European Court of Justice blocking €30 million from Slovakia’s account over the country’s ban on private health insurers’ profits has not prevented the government from continuing its efforts to push private health insurers out of the Slovak market.
The Health Ministry, under minister Zuzana Zvolenská, has started looking for an advisor who will set the price of the private health insurers (in case they are willing to be bought by the state) and represent the state during the process of expropriation (in the event that they resist). The advisor will receive €3.4 million in compensation, the Sme daily wrote in its Tuesday, May 28 issue. The advisor should be selected by autumn 2013.
Former health minister Ivan Uhliarik of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) opined that the minister could use the €3 million to save many under-financed hospitals instead. The INEKO think-tank’s analyst Dušan Zachar called the move detrimental, as reported by Sme, adding that it is a populist ideological fight against private health insurers.
The Hospodárske noviny daily wrote that the ministry filed a document to determine the requirements for the bidders and the extent of the services that the state expects from the advisor. The selection of the advisor has been delayed, as it was supposed to have been completed by April 2013.
(Source: Sme, Hospodárske noviny)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
