Lower house abolishes health care fees

The lower house of Parliament on Friday abolished health fees, introduced at the beginning of this year as part of the government’s health care reform. The opposition Social Democrats and the Communists, who are strictly against the fees, have found support among a few government coalition deputies, who didn’t take part in the vote. The decision of the lower house still needs to be approved by the Senate, which is likely to reject it. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek told journalists on Friday that the government will prepare a new proposal for the debate so that the law would be acceptable for the government coalition. Under the government’s health care reform, Czechs have to pay CZK 30 per visit to the doctor’s, and twice that amount per day spent in hospital.