Danko: Agreement with Doctors Won't Settle Systemic Problems in Health Sector

(STVR, 'Sobotne dialogy', December 14) Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), Slovak National Party (SNS) leader and House Vice-chair Andrej Danko said that an agreement with doctors and an end to the current dispute with them won't resolve the systemic problems in the Slovak health sector. "The health sector is a long-term problem; we lack a central purchase of medicaments, unified prices for various health-care procedures or a unified approach to health insurance companies," said Danko, adding that the agreement with doctors on salaries won't settle these problems. According to Danko, SNS won't initiate drawing of political consequences against Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) in case that an agreement with doctors fails to be achieved. He views the minister as a person who has the potential to address complex problems in the sector. "I see that this guy has the courage to make reforms, so he might have a chance to finally do something about the health sector," stated Danko. His oponent on the show, opposition MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia' party, For the People, Christian Union) criticised President Petr Pellegrini for the fact how quickly he signed a law that responds to the threat of doctors' resignations by declaring extraordinary situation. Grendel sees Pellegrini's continuing affiliation with the Voice-SD party behind his action. "If the minister hadn't been a Voice-SD nominee, I don't believe that the law would have been signed so quickly," stated Grendel. Grendel said that the opposition intensively coordinated their actions in Parliament so that the bill isn't passed, as it views it an unfair, cynical and repressive solution. He declined to answer whether the opposition will jointly turn to the Constitutional Court in this connection or not. ko