Doctor: Zeman suffering from chronic liver disease

President Miloš Zeman is suffering from chronic liver disease, Pavel Pafko, a member of the group of doctors overseeing the head of state’s state of health, said in an interview for Czech Radio’s Radiožurnál station. Dr. Pafko said the disease typically had no or few symptoms and could not be cured but could be “compensated for and improved”.

Doctors had previously refused to reveal the reason for the hospitalisation of Mr. Zeman, saying he did not wish this to be made public.

The head of state has been in the Central Military Hospital in Prague for around a month.

The head of the doctors council monitoring his case said on Friday that he was not at present capable of fully carrying out his duties as president; however, he could appoint a new government in a few weeks, perhaps at the Lány presidential residence, as Mr. Zeman has said he would like to do.