Teaching hospitals financially stable despite crisis, health minister says

Prague, Feb 7 (CTK) - Czech teaching hospitals and other health care facilities directly operated by the Health Ministry have been financially stable in spite of the continuing economic crisis and a rise in doctors' salaries, Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) told reporters yesterday.

They reached the pre-tax result of 447 million crowns in 2011, he said.

The ministry-operated hospitals have steadily a low level of reserves, their debts after the due date are not increasing and average salaries have been constantly rising in them.

Moreover, the number of acute beds has been successfully cut by 1000, Heger said.

"The ministry considers maintaining the financial stability of organisations that it directly controls, in connection with rises in personnel costs and VAT and an increase in quality and production its absolute priority," Heger said.

He added that he expected this year's results to be good as well, including the promised rise in the health care personnel's salaries.

The total level of health insurance coverage will increase by 2 percent in teaching hospitals and by 4.5 percent in regional and small hospitals.

Consequently, hospitals should have money for a 6.25-percent pay rise of all health care employees, Heger noted.

Salaries will rise according to the health minister's regulation in state hospitals, while in regional hospitals it is up to regional governors.

Heger said he had asked Czech Regions' Association chairman Michal Hasek (Social Democrats, CSSD) about the situation in regional hospitals in a letter.

According to unofficial information from some regional hospitals, they will not raise salaries, Heger said.

He added that he would like to further negotiate with Hasek if he did not confirm the pay increase.

($1=19.152 crowns)