LN: Heger mulls merger of health and labour ministries

Prague, Feb 6 (CTK) - Czech Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) is considering merging the office with the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry headed by Jaromir Drabek (also TOP 09), Lidove noviny (LN) writes yesterday.

In an interview with the paper, Heger said he may propose the plan to Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democratic Party, ODS).

The idea emerged when Necas assigned the ministers to come up with the agenda that may be abolished by the end of March.

Necas likes the idea, but the merger will not materialise, Drabek and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) said.

"At the first moment, it was on the level of joking between me and Drabek," Heger said.

"However, after we were considering the idea for a week, I no longer believe it is absurd," Heger said.

Heger said a number of issues such as the long-standing care law related to both ministries, while communication between them was often difficult.

Besides, the ministries are fused in a number of countries, he added.

Necas said he liked the idea.

"It is possible, but the idea would require the transfer of payment of pensions elsewhere, perhaps to the Finance Ministry," Necas said.

"When considering closing some ministries, I am of the view that the Local Development Ministry may be redundant in the first place," Necas said.

Kalousek said he would back any idea considerably cutting the state costs.

He said he and Drabek believed the merger would not materialise.

"At the moment, this is not any hot issue," Drabek said.

Previously, the IT Ministry was closed in 2007.