Good evening. Here is the Thursday, January 19 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Patients' hunt for doctors
The number of stray patients increases. (source: Ján Krošlák, Petit Press)
The phenomenon of stray patients became more pronounced after Christmas, when several doctors closed their offices due to high energy bills and an increase in nurses' salaries.
Health insurance companies say that hundreds of patients turn to them every year to help them find a doctor.
Finding a doctor is especially difficult in rural areas. Specialists are especially hard to find.
"The situation is getting worse and it will get worse," says Naďa Trenčanská Bedušová, executive director of the Association of Outpatient Providers.
Learn more about HEALTH CARE in Slovakia from our reporting.
Other stories from The Slovak Spectator website
Water: After heat and electricity price increases, households will also pay more for water.
Opinion: "[Andrej] Babiš is a sleazy monster, but he is not the kind of threat that would justify raising chauvinist waves."
Travel: New touristic shelters in the Kysuce region.
Events:What's on in the Slovak capital in the coming days.
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FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY
Englishman's plan to move to Slovakia for six weeks changed to forever
Hugo Green and his son. (source: H.G.)
Almost 30 years after his arrival, Hugo Green shares his views of Slovakia and why he decided to stay.
In a few lines:
The Justice Ministry has announced the readiness of a proposal helping unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, tackle some life events. The couples will have to visit a notary to sign and register a contract dealing with specific events such as access to health information or inheritance. Former justice minister Mária Kolíková (SaS) has criticised the proposal, saying that it is too late to offer partial solutions to same-sex couples and the country should adopt same-sex legislation. LGBT+ organisations are critical of the proposal as well.
The National Blood Donation Service runs its website in English. Are you considering donating blood for the first time? Here's a bit of encouragement from our colleague Roman Cuprik.
Barcelona has been awarded the title of European Capital of Democracy for 2023-2024. Helfried Carl spoke about the initiative with The Slovak Spectator last November.
On this day 30 years ago, Slovakia became the 180th member of the UN. Read the country's application.
In Bratislava's Petržalka borough, they plan to launch additional regulated parking zones this year. The Bratislava Parking Assistant (PAAS) should be extended to the Dvory V, VI neighbourhoods, in the area bound by Rusovská Cesta, Einsteinova and Panónska Cesta, and in the Hájov area in the vicinity of Šusteková Street. PAAS was launched last year.
In the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce, eastern Slovakia, water is leaking into the exhibition in several places. Museum workers are collecting water in buckets. They moved part of the exhibition to the depository and the rest to other premises. The comprehensive reconstruction of the museum took place in 2010. (source: TASR - František Iván)
WEATHER NEWS
The Mountain Rescue Service warns hikers that avalanche danger is considerable. Most of the new snow has fallen in the Low Tatras and the eastern part of the High Tatras.
Several mountain passes have been shut down for lorries. Follow road weather forecasting in Slovakia to see if the roads are icy, snowy or wet.
Check theweather forecast for Friday. Slovakia's meteorological office has issued black ice warnings for the whole country. It also warns against snowdrifts in the north and in some parts of eastern Slovakia. Hydrological warnings are in place in several regions of central and eastern Slovakia.
Thank you for reading The Slovak Spectator.
P.S. If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
