European Commission opposes refunding of health charges

The European Commission has become involved in an ongoing dispute about patient fees in the Czech Republic. The Commission has given an informal an informal verdict that it considers the practice of some left-leaning regional authorities to repay patients’ fees as amounting to illegal public support, the Czech competition watchdog has announced. The deputy chairman of the competition office said it was not clear what further steps Brussels would take with regard to the matter. Fees for visits to the doctor and stays in hospital were introduced by the centre-right coalition government in 2006 but have been opposed by Social Democrat regional authorities with some refunding the charges.