Heger wants comprehensive spa care only for serious diagnoses

Health Minister Leoš Heger wants comprehensive spa care to be covered only for serious diagnoses, such as strokes or hip replacements, in whjich cases insurance companies would pay for treatments and accommodation. Under the minister’s plan, insurance companies would not pay for spa visits after gall bladder operations for example. Speaking at the Žofín Forum, which is dealing with Czech health care reform, Mr Heger said that he did not believe that spas would lose patients, as they would be able to arrange insurance coverage as is the case with rehabilitation institutes. The association of therapeutic spas however says it will decrease the number of patients by another 30% because of the plan, which will mean closing certain facilities.