Council of disabled people files criminal complaint against health minister

Prague, June 23 (CTK) - Vaclav Krasa, head of the Czech National council of disabled people (NRZP) has lodged a criminal complaint against Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) over what the NRZP suspects to be unlawful steps within the Heger-promoted health care reform.

The recent raising of the fees patients pay for stay in hospital is unlawful and at variance with the constitution, as is the introduction of paid extra care, Krasa writes in the complaint he lodged on Thursday.

The NRZP suspects Heger of abuse of power and harming other people's rights. Since his appointment as minister, he has been "changing - wilfully and without any support in the Czech legal order - the country's legislation in the health sector, health care and general health insurance," Krasa writes on behalf of the NRZP.

Through some new laws valid since 2010, Heger implemented several controversial provisions introducing new direct payments by patients though the Article 31 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms (part of the Czech constitution) guarantees free health care and medial aids for free to Czech citizens, Krasa points out.

Moreover, Heger has pushed through an increase in the fees patients pay in hospitals, and also introduced the system of so called standard care and extras paid by patients, Krasa continues.

In doing so, Heger has created unequal conditions of people's access to health care.

"Thereby he has prevented, often for economic reasons, medical treatment of disabled people, old people, young families with children and other lower income groups," Krasa writes.

He also criticises what he considers too long time limits within which patients can reach the nearest hospital, and the reduction of hospital staff. Heger threatens Czech citizens' health and contributes to the health system's devastation, Krasa adds.