Czechs can sign petition for their hospitals' survival

Prague, Sept 25 (CTK) - Czech citizens can sign a petition entitled "Citizens, Defend Your Hospitals" for the preservation of the current hospital network that was launched by the associations of hospitals, patients and the disabled and health care unions, the petition committee told reporters Tuesday.

The associations protest against the planned abolition of some hospitals. The say up to 189 hospitals are to be closed.

They call on citizens to ask the candidates in the upcoming regional elections about their hospitals' future.

The petition demands that the government and other executive bodies take responsibility for the preservation of the hospital network that would be available to all inhabitants of the Czech Republic.

Health insurers have withdrawn from contracts with all hospitals as from the end of the year, and they are negotiating about new contracts.

However, no hospital has signed a new contract with health insurers as of January, 2013 yet.

Petr Fiala, from the Association of Czech Hospitals (ACMN), expressed concern about the situation Tuesday.

"We are shocked that the contracts have not been signed yet," National Disability Council head Vaclav Krasa added.

The joint petition was organised by the National Disability Council, the ACMN. the Associations of Regional Hospitals, the Patients' Association, the Health and Social Care Trade Unions and the Doctors' Trade Union.

The petition's text will be sent to deputies, senators, President Vaclav Klaus and the Ombudsman.

According to the petition's organisers, the centre-right coalition government of Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) wants to ruin many hospitals, and thus create preconditions for their abolition or a sale for a low price. The government has prepared conditions for the steps by its directive on health care availability, the petitioners say.