ANS: Proposed Consolidation Measures in Health-care Sector May Cause Collapse

Bratislava, September 20 (TASR) - The government's plans to cut funding in the health-care sector as part of its 2025 consolidation package could lead to collapse of the entire sector, Association of Slovak Hospitals (ANS) head Marian Petko stated on Friday. "We don't agree with consolidation at the expense of health-care workers, whose salaries are already hardly able to compete with those in neighbouring countries, not to mention Western countries. Cutting funding to the health sector in 2025 will cause collapse of the health-care system," he said. ANS has repeatedly warned that the system needs additional funds between €250-300 million this year. At the same time, it pointed out that next year only the hospitals in the association will have to find funds for the increased costs in the amount of at least €140 million. "Instead, the government wants to cut €259 million from the entire sector. We can't agree with that," added Petko. The governing coalition presented on Tuesday (September 17) a package of measures to ensure the consolidation of public finances between €2.6-2.7 billion. As a result, the deficit is set to fall to 4.7 percent of gross domestic product next year. am/mcs