Deputy health minister expresses support for hospital privatization plan

Deputy Minister of Health, Anna Knysok, has expressed her support for a plan to sell some of Poland's hospitals to private investors. She said she believes that money in private hospitals would be spent more effectively, and that the hospitals would be managed more efficiently. Privatization is considered by many analysts as the only way for many hospitals to avoid liquidation, in view of their heavy indebtedness. Although no official figures are available, the total amount owed by the 70% of Poland's hospitals that are in debt is estimated at zł.400 million. According to Knysok, the price of a hospital would be calculated as its current debt, plus a minimum of 20%. Under another plan, employees might be permitted to form a partnership to manage a hospital, in cases where its debt does not exceed 20% of its assets. The deputy health minister said that it should be left to the local authorities to decide on the method of privatizing a hospital. (Zycie, pp.1,3) A.D.