71st International Atlantic Economic Conference

March 16 - 19, 2011 | Athens, Greece

After the Financial Crisis: Is the Czech Health Care System in Transition?

Saturday, 19 March 2011: 11:30
Ludwig O. Dittrich, Ph.D. , Department of Economics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Dana Stara, Ph.D. , Economics, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
Czech health care system based on intra and inter generation solidarity is under severe pressure brought about by the financial crisis.

In this paper we will argue that the actual drop in the available for health care sector financing didn’t amount to much.  However the relatively mild drop in funding of the system in years 2008, 2009 and 2010 is used to justify an attempt to bring about substantial changes in the financing and delivery of the health care in the Czech Republic.  Nationwide system of financing based on principle of “defined benefits” to all, is to be replaced by system rooted in the “defined contribution” principle.  To achieve this, the current political leadership is preparing profound transformation of hospital sector and public health care insurance system via privatization.

In the later section of the paper we will consider alternatives for the development of the health care sector in the Czech Republic