Media: Tax breaks for preventative medical care could benefit Babiš’s clinics

The Czech government is planning tax breaks for “above-standard” preventative medical care, Deník N reported on Monday. Critics say, however, that this will put Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in conflict of interest, given that he owns clinics that provide screening for early signs of cancer and other diseases, the news outlet said.

At present some health services are exempt from taxation and levies up to a figure of CZK 50,000 a year. The Ministry of Health wants to do away with this limit for certain measures.

Billionaire businessman Babiš said he had put his main business, Agrofert, into trust funds. However, the European Commission has questioned whether this removed his influence over the company and urged Czech authorities to ensure that entities linked to him do not improperly receive EU-funded subsidies.