Spidla to meet with Souckova to discuss health care finances

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla has called a meeting with Health Minister Marie Souckova, to take place on Monday, in order to discuss the financial situation in the health sector. On Friday, the board of directors of the national health insurance company, Vseobecna Zdravotni Pojistovna, which covers some seventy percent of Czechs, said hospitals around the country will have to pay back money owed, totalling 836 million Czech crowns. This radical step is expected to leave the hospitals affected in serious financial trouble. In most cases, insurance coverage will not be paid for the next two months and hospitals will have to cut staff bonuses and hold off payments to suppliers.