Sasko to Decide on Re-evaluation of Liptov Hospital in Next Few Weeks

Liptovsky Mikulas, February 17 (TASR) - Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) confirmed on Monday at a press conference at Liptov Hospital in the town of Liptovsky Mikulas (Zilina region) that he'll decide in the next few weeks on the reconsideration of the categorisation of the hospital to the second level. Liptovsky Mikulas mayor Jan Blchac stated that doctors, who can only perform limited procedures in the lowest-level hospital, receive seriously wounded patients, often on the verge of life and death. "Our residents also have the right to be treated at level two or three, why should they have to travel for such treatment," he added. According to the health minister, there are 2,000,000 overnight stays per year in the Liptov area. "Probably some part of these guests, tourists, holidaymakers, but also cottagers and various people who don't naturally fall into those numbers, so they require some kind of health care," he said. Sasko stated that in the context of the re-evaluation of the categorisation, a decision must be made that will be sustainable in the long term. "The legislation doesn't take into account the fact that there is a catchment area of some 78,000 patients here, but it doesn't take into account at all that there are an additional 60 admissions a day from the Jasna ski resort alone," he added. am/mcs