By Nicholas Kulish
Published: May 28, 2008
The Czech Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the government had the right to charge fees for patients using the health care system.
The government began charging about $1.85 for a visit to the doctor or a prescription and twice that for each day spent in the hospital starting Jan 1.
The payments, which opinion polls show that the public opposes, were intended to reduce unnecessary visits to the doctor and medications. Czechs go to the doctor, on average, more often than anyone in Europe.
The Czech Constitution says that Czechs have the right "to free medical care," but "under the conditions defined by law."
The courts decision was a victory for Prime Minister Mirek Topolaneks government, which instituted the payments as part of a broader reform of public finances. The court said that it did not want to play a political role. If the court intervened, it could "close the door on any reform efforts," said Judge Stanislav Balik, reading an explanation of the courts decision in Brno, where the court is based.
Source : http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/28/europe/28czech.php
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