17 HOSPITALS BEFORE BANKRUPTCY

Government restrictions result in HUF 6 billion deficit in the capital. ’The structural changes serve the prevention of seventeen metropolitan hospitals going bankrupt’, said Andrea Szolnoki, Deputy Mayor (Free Democrats) of Budapest yesterday. The opposition finds the proposal to ease the situation unsuitable from a professional point of view.

The health committee of the metropolitan assembly discusses today the plan, already refused once by the opposition. According to the plan three hospitals would be transformed into economic companies, several institutions would be specialized clinics, and the non-medical activities like catering or cleaning would be made uniform.András Kupper (Fidesz), vice chairman of the health committee finds it scandalous that the plan has not been discussed with medical unions, with the leaders of the affected districts, or with other organizations which maintain hospitals in Budapest. István Éger, chairman of the Hungarian Medical Chamber said the news about the plan exploded like a bomb. He said the structure of hospitals needed examination and there might be ’superficial’ parts of the system but any transformation should be preceded by professional discussions.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó