Health: Pediatric Emergency Departments Likely to Shorten Their Opening Hours(2)

Bratislava, May 6 (TASR) - Outpatient pediatric emergency departments might have their opening hours shortened as of July 1 from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., via legislation unveiled by Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova (Voice-SD) on Monday. In addition, the bill proposes that regular pediatric practice should be available to patients every working day each week and at least one day until 6 p.m. Bratislava, May 6 (TASR) - Outpatient pediatric emergency departments might have their opening hours shortened as of July 1 from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., via legislation unveiled by Health Minister Zuzana Dolinkova (Voice-SD) on Monday. In addition, the bill proposes that regular pediatric practice should be available to patients every working day each week and at least one day until 6 p.m. Dolinkova added that the House Health Committee is expected to discuss the motion on Tuesday (May 18) and subsequently forward it to Parliament. The minister announced that she had explained to representatives of the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) as well as mayors of all affected towns the reasons behind the consolidation of the pediatric outpatient emergency departments. "They understand it and I trust that they'll explain it to parents and inhabitants, too," she said, adding that the aim of the measures is to ensure access to health care for children across the whole of Slovakia until a new generation of pediatrists comes into the system. ZMOS President Jozef Bozik underlined that neither the ZMOS nor the mayors like the consolidation. "On the other hand, as rational people, we heard clearly the arguments [...] that we're saving the system of outpatient emergency departments for children from collapse," he claimed. Head of the Slovak Primary Pediatric Care of the Slovak Doctors' Association Elena Prokopova accentuated that the situation prevailing in pediatrics is alarming in terms of personnel shortages and the aim is to provide care to all children. "The measures are not positive for primary pediatrists, representatives of towns and villages or parents of our children, but we see no other option available," she said. The network of pediatric outpatient emergency departments is to be trimmed in three stages, with the last one planned as of November 2024. mf/mcs