Health Systems in Transition - Hungary - World Health Organization ...

7. Assessment of the health system
7.1 Stated objectives of the health system
In Hungary, the objectives of the health system are either set explicitly in the
various laws, regulations and policy documents, or implicitly by the actions
taken by the government. In the latter case, the objectives are not written
down or declared openly, but can be inferred from actual policy measures. In
general, there seems to be an unspoken consensus among the main political
parties regarding the most important, core objectives of the health system, at
least on a political statement level. In contrast, there has been much debate,
even within political parties, on how these objectives should be interpreted
and consequently put into practice and little political commitment for their
operationalization. Naturally, the priority attached to the objectives has also
changed with election cycles, and minority positions also appear in policy
debates from time to time, occasionally occupying the political action space as
a result of the power relationships in coalition governments.
Various laws and regulations, as well as rulings of the Constitutional
Court have dealt with these issues. As far as the codified policy objectives are
concerned, the starting point has always been the constitution of the Republic
of Hungary 1 . The constitution defines health as a right of Hungarian citizens.
Article 70/D of the constitution declares that:
1) People living within the territory of the Republic of Hungary have the
right to the highest possible level of physical and mental health and that:
2) The Republic of Hungary implements this right through arrangements for
labour safety, with health institutions and medical care, through ensuring
the possibility for regular physical training, and through the protection of
the man-made and natural environment.
1 A new constitution was approved by the National Assembly in April 2011. It is to come into effect
on 1 January 2012.
7. Assessment of the health system