Hungary Ministry of Health proposes plan to reduce surgical waiting lists

The Hungarian Ministry of Health has developed a 30-page action plan aimed at reducing hospital waiting lists, which is expected to be submitted to the government for approval shortly. If adopted, the program could launch as early as October.

Ministerial Secretary Zahár Ákos stated that the strategy focuses on maximizing existing surgical capacities. This may include performing more surgeries during afternoons and weekends to increase throughput. The government has earmarked 500 billion forints for the healthcare sector, with significant portions intended for increasing surgical capacity and raising professional wages.

The government's stated goal is to reduce waiting times by the end of 2027 to a maximum of six months for inpatient care and two months for outpatient care. This initiative follows reports of increasing wait times for procedures such as hip and knee replacements, as indicated by data from the National Health Insurance Fund Manager (NEAK).