Health service financial crisis beings to erupt in Minister's face

"Negotiations lasting for months, consultations and protests turned out to be futile. We have our backs against the wall. We want the government to withdraw their support for the healthcare restructuring bill," said Maria Ochman, member of the healthcare Solidarity union. Trade unions believe that restructuring would lead to mass bankruptcies of hospitals and hence to the privatization of the healthcare system. "The new bill will allow hospitals to get out of debt," replied Health Minister Marek Balicki. Unions warn that should the bill receive consent in the Sejm, there will be massive nat ionwide strikes. In his interview for Rzeczpospolita Balicki said that the protest may be politically motivated, as all the demands set by trade unions were already met. Balicki believes that hospitals' collective debt of zł.6 billion is the main factor hindering positive changes in this country's healthcare system. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A2, A5; Rzeczpospolita, 12-13 February, p. A3)