Political storm wages over 'privatizing' hospitals

A heated political controversy erupted yesterday after the ruling Civic Platform (PO) revealed it would shortly propose a law that transforms all public hospitals into commercial companies.

Opposition Law and Justice (PiS) accused the PO of attempting a backdoor privatization of the public health system and of lying to voters when it ruled out wholesale privatization during the 2007 election campaign.

PO MPs responded by saying that the proposal would provide a much-needed lifeline to cash-strapped hospitals and that it by no means necessarily invited privatization.

Hospitals' debt will be redeemed and local councils given full autonomy in managing them in order to boost efficiency, possibly but not necessarily in partnership with private investors.

It is PiS politicians who manipulate the voters by cynically stoking up fears, they said. The Peasants' Party, the junior coalition partner, appeared taken by surprise, but said it could support the idea in principle. A relevant bill is to be submitted to the Sejm health committee next week.

Meanwhile, a survey by GfK Polonia shows 55% of the public oppose the privatization of hospitals. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A1; Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 1; Dziennik, p. 6) R.M.