Doctors and patients welcomed while the ruling Civic Platform (PO) criticised President Lech Kaczyński's decision to veto 3 out of the 6 bills on proposed health reform in Poland. The vetoed bills pertain to the transformation of public health centres into companies and to the conditions for workers in the health sector. The three bills that president Lech Kaczynski did sign were the ones on patients' rights and their spokesperson, on health care consultants and health care credentials.
Danuta Isler reports.
The three vetoed bills were crucial for the government-prepared reform of the health care system in Poland as they aimed at allowing hospitals to operate on a commercial basis, for example by taking loans to improve their facilities and services. Explaining his decision president Kaczynski said that health sector should not be subject to free market rules. Trade unionists and patients' advocates said that the proposed reform would be harmful to the society as it would be more difficult for many Poles to have access to such commercial facilities. Analysts say that the transformation of Polish hospitals into companies should be a gradual and not obligatory process. Also, competition for Poland's public health insurer should be introduced.
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