News

Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) is preparing a review of five cancer screening programmes for early detection of breast, colorectal, prostate, cervical, and lung cancers. He aims to make the programmes more efficient and increase patient participation, which is currently very low in some cases. Early detection plays a crucial role in improving a patient’s chances of successful treatment and survival. Vojtěch announced this at a conference on cancer prevention and treatment at Olomouc University Hospital.

A new STEM (Institute of Empirical Research) survey shows that one in five women and one in ten men in the Czech Republic have personal experience of domestic violence. When extrapolated to the entire population, the results show that 25% of adults have personally experienced, or had a family member experience, psychological abuse, 24% have experienced physical abuse, 18% controlling behaviour, 13% economic abuse by a partner, and 7% of Czechs have experienced sexual violence by a partner.

The survey also found that domestic violence by a partenr is more common among people with lower levels of education, those in poorer socio-economic circumstances, and adults aged 30 to 44.

Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) presented the details of a bill to restore Czechia's electronic sales reporting system (EET) from January 2027, initially in a pilot version. The EET 2.0 system will build on the original EET, which was introduced by the ČSSD–ANO government in 2016. However, it was suspended from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and from January 2023 it was abolished by Petr Fiala’s (ODS) government.

“Recording sales is normal,” the minister said, adding that the return of the system could generate an additional CZK 14–15 billion (EUR 600 million) per year in VAT and income tax. The EET 2.0 system will record payments made in person, including cash, card, and QR code transactions. Unlike the previous system, there will no longer be a requirement to print a paper receipt. The proposal also includes an “EET OFF” exemption for small businesses with annual revenues of less than CZK 1 million (EUR 41.000).

President Petr Pavel does not consider the reinstatement of the EET system a step in the wrong direction, he announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, Schillerová said that the government will reintroduce nursery subsidies and tax reliefs for working students.

Czech humanitarian aid organisations have requested a meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) over proposed cuts of CZK 746.7 million (EUR 30.8 million) to humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and support for Ukraine, the Czech News Agency reported on Tuesday evening.

In an open letter, the organisations – affiliated  with the Czech Forum for Development Cooperation (FoRS) and including ADRA, CARE, People in Need, Caritas Czech Republic, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Koridor UA – urged the government to reconsider the cuts, criticising the proposed reductions and highlighting the difficult situation in Ukraine as well as in Syria, Sudan, and Yemen.

The signatories argued that such aid is not a marginal expense but an investment in Czechia’s security, stability, and international standing, helping to prevent conflict and migration.

Babiš said he was open to meeting the organisations and that funding for some programmes will be discussed as the parliament debates the draft state budget.