Czech doctors fail to reach agreement with insurers

Czech doctors were not able to reach agreement on Friday with health insurance companies on payments for their services in 2008; it will now be up to the Health Ministry to make a decision within sixty days. Ladislav Friedrich, vice-president of the Union of Health Insurance Companies, revealed the information to the Czech news agency. The proposed increase in per capita payments, which each general practitioner receives for a registered patient, was opposed by out-patient specialists. The sum was in fact rejected by all physicians who want more money than what health insurers offer them, Mr Friedrich said.

The majority of Czech GPs closed their surgeries in protest against the proposed payments next year on Wednesday. The doctors say the level of money they receive is almost untenable, as they cannot upgrade their surgeries' equipment or improve patients' comfort. GPs now get 36 crowns monthly per capita, but they want 55 crowns. The General Health Insurance Company (VZP) offered them 42 crowns.