REFERENDUM ABOUT HOSPITAL PRIVATIZATION

Though the Constitutional Court has approved the referendum about the privatization of hospitals, yesterday Ferenc Gyurcsány, Prime Minister–in-waiting and Mihály Kökény, Minister of Health met American investors to inform them about investment possibilities in the field of public health in Hungary.

President Mádl has a fortnight to call a referendum about hospital privatization within 90 days as the Constitutional Court refused motions against a referendum. The more than 200 000 subscriptions for the referendum had been collected by the Labour Party and by civic organizations. The referendum wants to keep the hospitals and other institutions of puplic health in state or self-government property.Gyurcsány’s government programme, however, wishes to reduce the role of the state in the public health sector, enhancing competition and encouraging private investment.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó