Prague, Oct 20 (CTK) – The Czech Republic is short of out-patient health centres for homeless people, Salvation Army representatives said at a press conference Tuesday, adding that the governments have failed to implement their plan to launch health care for the homeless.
About 30,000 homeless people live the Czech Republic, a country with 10.5 million inhabitants. All the homeless suffer from health troubles and they need medical care, the Salvation Army said.
Centres of mental health have not been established either, nor is the care of the homeless taught at medical faculties, they said.
The Salvation Army annually provides health treatment to about 5,000 homeless people in its three surgeries in Prague, Brno and the north Moravian capital Ostrava.
Similar care is also provided by other charity organisations. Besides, the law binds all health centres and hospitals to treat a homeless person with acute troubles. The practice is often different, however.
The health condition of the homeless in the Czech Republic “has been worsening as there is no prevention or early treatment. As a result, these people are left in a very bad condition and they may need more expensive treatment to recover,” Jan F. Kroupa, from the Salvation Army’s Czech branch, said.
The Salvation Army said many doctors dislike seeing homeless people among the people waiting for out-patient treatment as they deter other patients by their appearance and unpleasant odour.
Moreover, doctors admit that the treatment of the homeless and communication with them is more demanding and time-consuming.
Out-patient centres most often treat venous ulcers, scabies, and skin infections, and also homeless patients with diabetes and epilepsy. Almost every homeless person probably suffers from mental troubles as well, said Andrea Pekarkova, a doctor specialised in treating patients in the streets.
Another problem is a lack of social and health centres where ill homeless people could stay, the Salvation Army said, adding that it has opened the third such facility in north Moravia recently.
It plans to open them in all regions and also introduce mobile out-patient centres.
