Spas to let go 18 percent of employees due to austerity

Czech spas will let go around 18 percent of their employees this year due to cuts to health care covering spa treatment, the Czech Association of Spa Resorts said on Friday. The Health Ministry believes the extent of insurance-covered spa treatment in the Czech Republic is excessive, and last year narrowed the number of diagnosis eligible for spa treatment, and also shortened the lengths of stays. This has lead to a 40- to 45-percent drop in the number of clients in the first two months of this year, the association said.