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

Health systems in transition Hungary 193
all complaints were related to health care, pension and labour issues, while
the constitutional right to health was violated in 3.5% of all cases investigated
in 2009. Most problems were related to access to care and the respect of
patient rights, which stemmed mainly from the financing restrictions and
structural changes of recent health care reforms (Office of the Parliamentary
Commissioner, 2010: 15 –17).
The confidentiality of personal medical information is protected by
a separate law and a parliamentary commissioner is dedicated to this task.
The main principle underlying the protection of personal medical data is that
identifying personal information can only be used by designated organizations
and persons for purposes stipulated in related regulation. Any use of personal
data beyond these is permitted only with written consent of the individuals
concerned (1997/3).
7.3.2 Equity of access to health care
In principle, the Hungarian health care system provides universal and
comprehensive coverage with the same benefits for the entire population. In
practice, however, large variations exist in service delivery, both geographically
and by specialization. This phenomenon is partially due to the legacy of the
communist era, with which governments of the past 20 years have struggled,
and which has been evolving since. Currently, unequal access spans several
types of services, such as emergency care, family doctors in rural areas,
certain interventions with waiting lists, etc. (compare section 7.5.2) and can
be influenced by several health determinants (e.g. for socioeconomic status
see section 7.2.1). It is neither extensively researched nor particularly well
documented.
A recent survey comparing the health of people living in Roma settlements
to that of the general population in Hungary found that minority status may
play an important role in access to health services. Compared to the general
population, Roma were less likely to use health services, especially those
offered by specialists and dentists. No differences were found, however, in the
share of individuals with one hospital stay during the previous year. Despite
the presence of a universal breast cancer screening programme in Hungary,
only 25% of Roma women between the ages of 45 and 64 years who took part
in the survey indicated that they had undergone mammography within the
previous two years. The corresponding figure in the general population was
70%. Finally, the survey indicated that the use of health services by Roma