Despite the dismal failure of the last health insurance bill at the recent referendum, new health minister Tamás Székely has recommended more of the same with a proposal eerily similar to the governments previous effort, reports business daily Napi Gazdaság (subscriber only).
The previous multi-insurer system put forward by the Socialist government ran aground in a plebiscite due to widespread opposition to large parts of the state health care system being allowed into private ownership. Although the theory of state health care remains sound, similar systems are being squeezed across Europe, the international trend is toward encouraging competition to boost efficiency and cut costs. Regardless of the various arguments and counterarguments, doubts remain over whether the current government is equipped to oversee this transition – or indeed any reform of the highly inefficient health care system.
One of the most important elements of the bill is the introduction of seven regional health funds, which will operate effectively as insurance providers. Hospitals and clinics would then be free to decide autonomously which providers to contract with and the terms of those contracts, resulting in the end of the current system of obligatory contracts. The capacity of the institutes would also be set according to local demands rather than any per capita financial limit.
Although the new proposal meets the expectations of Fidesz in some areas – income-related payments will remain regardless of age and medical history, and morbidity statistics will be taken into consideration when financing treatments – Hungary’s largest opposition party has not welcomed the bill. Fidesz spokesperson Péter Szíjjártó suggested that Székely, like his predecessors, wanted to put his concepts into practice without professional and social support. Although the minister held discussions with several professional organizations, they were only aware of some elements of the bill.
