New commission for health reform to be introduced in about two weeks

A commission that will be responsible for the country's health reform process will be introduced in about two weeks. In a Czech TV debate programme on Sunday, Health Minister Tomas Julinek said the commission will be made up of experts in the field and representatives of the five parties in parliament. Speaking in the same televised debate, Deputy Health Minister Pavel Hrobon warned the country's health care system will be 30 billion crowns (an estimated 1.4 billion US dollars) short in 2015, if the system of financing is not changed.

Should the country's politicians come to an agreement over the necessary changes, they could be put in place by the commission by 2010, Minister Julinek said.