Coalition parties at loggerheads over healthcare funding

The two main parties in the coalition government are at loggerheads on where to find funding to stabilise the country’s health service. Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, who heads ANO, is opposed to the Social Democrats’ plan to raise money for healthcare by increasing the state health insurer’s fees. Mr. Babiš insists the funding can be found if the Ministry of Health makes economies in other areas. Health Minister Svatopluk Němeček wants to free up CZK 2 billion for hospitals, partly to compensate for a drop in their income linked to the abolition of fees for hospital stays. The cabinet is due to discuss the issue at one of its next meetings.