Health Minister paints grim picture of health service finances

Health Minister Leszek Sikorski yesterday presented the government with a report on the finances of the national health system. "The situation is very tough and disturbing," claimed Sikorski. The level of debt of public hospitals exceeded zł. 4 billion, while the National Health Fund (NFZ) continues to receive less money than forecast in the health service's financial plans. In 2003 the 8% national insurance contribution for the NFZ should produce revenues of zł. 28 billion, but the National Insurance Fund (ZUS) has not yet managed to collect the planned sum of money. "Currently, we are analyzing financial plans and contracts signed by the regional health funds," said Sikorski. If wards were in danger of losing financial liquidity, then the Fund would reconsider their conditions of financing and may limit the funding available to such hospitals. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A4) M.M.