Health Ministry promises to take action against unwarranted charges claimed by some specialists

The Ministry of Health has promised to take action against unwarranted charges claimed by some medical specialists. The ministry has proposed an amendment to the Health Services Act, which explicitly prohibits care providers from charging people money for a procedure covered by an insurance company. Some specialists request a fee for admission of new patients or an annual fee for care provided, particularly in dentistry and gynecology. In future such care providers could face penalties reaching millions of crowns. According to the largest Czech health insurer VZP, the company deals with dozens of such complaints every year.