Government rejects Health Ministers proposals for saving health system

The government has been postponing its decision about improving the health system for months. The system is on the verge of bankruptcy due to hospital debts which now exceed zł. 5.5 billion. The situation was further complicated by giving patients the right to choose which hospital they are treated in and numerous lawsuits surrounding hospitals. On Friday, the Cabinet decided that in order to save the system, it was necessary to tackle its debts.These were largely generated when hospitals, following a green light from the state back in 2002, granted staff pay increases without having the funds to finance them. The government still has not accepted the proposals of Health Minister Leszek Sikorski to give hospitals zł. 3.5 billion to cover the bill. "There is no threat of closing hospitals or annulling contracts signed for 2003," said Economy Minister Jerzy Hausner. He will preside over the inter-department team, which will be responsible for preparing two drafts on local health authorities and restructuring hospitals' debts. The programs are to be launched from the beginning of next year. (Rzeczpospolita, July 26-27, pp. A1, A4) M.M.