Problems and debts of the health sector could trigger further tax increases

Increasing healthcare premiums to 8% is not sufficient to help the health sector, say doctors, nurses and hospital managers, who all believe the increase should be at least 11% to make ends meet. Since the last 0.25% increase in premiums, two years ago, government spending on healthcare has remained virtually the same, with the inflationary difference being picked up by the budget. Next year, the sector is to receive an additional zl. 870 million, but as much money again will have to go to the medical emergency units which are still financed by money from the health insurance system. To aggravate the situation even further, last year the government decided to reduce the money health funds received as part of the unemployment insurance system. According to the Parliamentary opposition, in 2002 the healthcare system received zl. 1.6 billion less than in 2001 and next year, even after the increase in premiums, the figure is unlikely to change. The total debt of health system has reached around zl. 5 billion. (Zycie, p. 1) J.K.