Health care reforms in the Slovak and Czech republics 1989-2011:The same or different tracks?
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: For 20 years the successor states of the former Czechoslovakia have tried to improve health \noutcomes in an efficient or at least effective manner. Slovakia and the Czech Republic chose partly \ndifferent policies, different health delivery and finance systems, and different payment and \nincentive structures. And yet in both countries better health outcomes emerged, but at great cost, \nas efficiency proved elusive. The goal of the paper is to examine processes and results of health \ncare reforms in the Czech Republic and Slovakia – are both countries after 20 years of changes \nstill on the same track? The paper has four sections. Following the first section of background and \nintroduction, we examine the principles and development of social policy in health care, how \npolitical instability neutered reform, yet politicised health issues, sometimes resulting in policy \nreversals. The third section explores the outcomes of the transition health care policies and how \nvoters have perceived them. A summary of findings concludes, indicating that both systems are still \nvery close, but some important differences emerged during the reforms process. Although there \nhas been progress towards western European outcome standards, there is much to be done. While \nthe costs of health care will continue to rise, it is unclear that the present political, policy-making \nand implementation systems can deliver either efficiency or a responsiveness to patients` views.
Authors: Colin Lawson, Juraj Nemec, Vladimír Šagát
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W12513727