Czech and Slovak health insurers move to reform patient payment systems

At the 4th Cardiology Conference of the Czech Health Daily, VZP director Ivan Duškov and ČPZP director David Šmehlík said they will raise reimbursements for the most complex, multimorbid cardiac patients. They plan to introduce risk‑stratified guidelines, strengthen primary prevention and define clear pathways that direct severe cases to specialist centres while keeping routine care in primary practice.

In Slovakia, Health Minister Kamil Šaško acknowledged widespread illegal charges for appointment bookings and other services, which the public defender of rights describes as a “fee wilderness” that breaches the law. The ministry intends to present a systemic solution this autumn, giving regional health authorities greater powers to enforce compliance and end hidden patient fees.