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Five regional hospitals in central Bohemia are offering patients a chance to sign up for subsidies countering mandatory health fees introduced by the government last year. In January 2008, the government introduced controversial fees aimed at reforming the health care system, requiring patients to pay 30 crowns per visit to the doctor’s and 60 crowns per day spent in hospital. The region of central Bohemia is the first to provide the subsidies on patients’ behalf – in keeping with a pre-election promise by the Social Democrats last year. Other regions with local Social Democrat-led governments are now expected to follow suit. While many have welcomed the development, TV Nova and other sources have reported that dozens of hospital visitors on Friday turned down the offer of subsidies, opting to pay the government’s health fees “on principle”.

The Czech Republic has suffered defeat at the hands of Russia in the quarterfinals at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa, Canada. The Czechs were beaten on Friday by a score of 5:1. The game was tied a goal apiece after two periods, but the Russians exploded in the final period for four goals. It is the fourth year in a row that the Czech juniors will finish outside of the medals. Russia now faces Canada, while Sweden will face Slovakia in the semi-final round.

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is to head an EU mission to the Middle East on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed. Its task is to work towards a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli air strikes have killed close to 400 people in an unprecedented offensive against Hamas radicals. Mr. Schwarzenberg has been consulting the matter both with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and EU foreign ministers. The mission is expected to include EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the French and Swedish foreign ministers. The delegation will first visit Egypt, then move on to Israel and Palestine. Jordan is to be the last stop on the mission’s journey on Tuesday.

Around 150 people gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Prague on Friday to demonstrate against Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The meeting was staged by the Muslim Community in Prague, whose demands were joined by other Palestinian and Muslim organisations. Chairman of the Muslim Community in Prague Vladimír Sanka said earlier that Israeli attacks had been planned long ago and timed to coincide with the parliamentary elections in Israel. The Israeli air strikes have killed close to 400 people so far. Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg on Saturday supported Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.