Last week, Leos Heger, Minister for Health of the Czech Republic invited the Ministers of Health of the Visegrad Group (V4) for a meeting in Prague.

Besides the health leaders of V4, of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary, the representatives of Austria also received invitations to the discussion. The main topic of the meeting revolved around the issues of sustainability and financeability of health systems in the time of the economic crisis. The challenges of implementing the EU Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare was also an important point on the agenda. Hungary was represented by Dr Miklós Szócska, Minister of State for Health.

In an interview following the discussion, Dr Miklós Szócska told the press that in his opinion, the restructuring of the Hungarian healthcare system was progressing at an enviable pace. The participating Ministers agreed that measures taken in Hungary for the protection of non-smokers and the introduction of the public health food tax are both exemplary.

During the meeting, the health leaders the health sector concluded that the focus of their endeavour is to prove that the healthcare sector can be efficient and capable of renewing itself and it is worthwhile to invest in the sector.

(Nemzeti Erőforrás Minisztérium)