LOZ and NKU Criticise Health Ministry's Proposal on Hospital Funding

Bratislava, November 27 (TASR) - The Doctors Trade Union Association (LOZ) has criticised the Health Ministry's proposed plan for hospital financing, claiming that, according to the proposal, private hospitals are to receive a threefold year-on-year increase in basic DRG rates compared to faculty and university hospitals. Trade unions warn that this would exacerbate the imbalance in hospital funding. The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) has warned that if the proposal is adopted in its current form, it will not only suppress all of the office's proven findings, but will also contradict the conclusions of the Finance Ministry and the Health-care Supervisory Office (UDZS). "LOZ warns of a serious risk arising from the Health Ministry's proposal for 2026 regarding the determination of basic rates for financing hospitals in the DRG system. Simply put, the basic rate is the unit price for hospital treatment paid to hospitals by health insurance companies. The proposed distribution of financial resources doesn't take into account the real demands of providing health care and ignores the serious findings of the Supreme Audit Office," stated LOZ chairman Peter Visolajsky. Trade unionists pointed out that, according to the proposal, smaller, mostly private hospitals would receive an annual increase of approximately 16 percent, while state hospitals would receive only 5 and 3 percent. "These are facilities that bear the greatest burden of providing the most specialised and financially demanding services and have long struggled with underfunding," emphasised Visolajsky, pointing out that the Supreme Audit Office and other institutions have repeatedly stated that smaller, mostly private hospitals are favoured in the reimbursement system. NKU stated that it stands firmly behind its findings. According to the authority, accepting the proposed bill wouldn't only demonstrably suppress these findings, but would also contradict the conclusions of the Finance Ministry and the Health-care Supervisory Office. "If someone were deliberately looking for a way to bring state hospitals to their knees so that a private saviour could then come in, it would be difficult to come up with anything better," said NKU head Lubomir Andrassy. The Health Ministry stated in response that it is currently presenting the final version of the draft basic rates for 2026 to the members of the steering committee for reimbursement mechanisms and price regulation for institutional health care. It declares that the proposal takes into account the comments of all members and also reflects the ministry's expectations and budgetary possibilities for next year. "We'll provide further information after the vote," added the ministry. am