Patients' Association says planned introduction of health care fees violates Constitution

The Czech Association of Patients says the Health Ministry's planned introduction of health care fees is unconstitutional. Under the ministry's proposed reform package, every trip to the doctor would cost patients 30 crowns, every day spent in a hospital or other health facility 60 crowns, and every visit to an emergency ward 90 crowns. However, a patient's expenses, including medication, would not exceed 5,000 crowns a year. The association's vice-chairman Josef Mrazek said in a televised debate on Sunday, that the introduction of such fees violates the Constitution and senators and MPs will be asked to turn to the Constitutional Court in protest.