Health minister discusses healthcare reforms with President Pavel

Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) met President Petr Pavel on Thursday to discuss planned healthcare reforms, including mandatory electronic referrals, electronic medical records and changes to public health legislation. They also focused on the long-term financing of the healthcare system, agreeing that the government's planned 24-billion-crown increase in payments for state-insured citizens is only a temporary solution and must be accompanied by structural reforms. Vojtěch also briefed the president on the planned transfer of the government's executive anti-drug agenda to the Health Ministry, saying funding and specialist staff would remain in place despite criticism from addiction experts.