Prime Minister Robert Fico will again seek to ban private health insurance companies from retaining or distributing profits and has asked Health Minister Zuzana Zvolenská to find a way to do so without violating the constitution since the attempt to do this in the first Fico government in 2007 was found to be unconstitutional, the Sme daily reported.
“It will not be easy, but we still assume that it is immoral and unfair when somebody generates profit from public resources,” said Fico, as quoted by Sme.
The restriction on the private health insurers from retaining or distributing profits might also be supported by opposition parties as they were presenting similar proposals during their pre-election campaign. But Viliam Novotný from the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) said that if the new proposal is similar to the one from 2007 his party will be prepared to turn to the Constitutional Court again.
“The first attempt was unsuccessful and we had to fix it,” added former Health Minister Ivan Uhliarik from the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), as quoted by Sme.
An expert said that though it will be difficult to pass such a ban, it is not impossible. Constitutional lawyer Peter Kresák said it is similar to the situation of mobile phone providers who must set their prices in accordance with the rules of the EU.
“Certain regulation is possible, it depends on how it is done,” he said, as quoted by Sme.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
