Charles U threatens to stop courses at medical facilities of reforms change status

In related news, Prague’s Charles University will stop courses at its medical facilities if the health minister successfully pushes through transformation of university hospitals into joint-stock companies. A spokesman for the institution made the statement on Friday, saying a resolution on the subject had been passed by the university’s academic senate. Health Ministry spokesman Tomas Čikrt responded by saying the step amounted to blackmail, adding the move was exaggerated as the legislation was currently only under discussion. Along with universities, the opposition Social Democrats and Communists oppose the planned reform. In addition, the idea has also come under criticism from the two smaller parties in government, the Greens and the Christian Democrats. Students of medical faculties, meanwhile, protested against the planned changes earlier this week.