The Risk of the Outflow of Doctors and IT/ICT ... - Outlook Web App

working environment in Czech healthcare in comparison with standards elsewhere in the
world. 3
The greatest strengths of Czech healthcare, in the experts’ opinion, are the availability of
healthcare services, the professional level of medical care and the highly-qualified workforce.
Specific manifestations include, for example, one of the lowest infant death rates in the world
(preventative care for pregnant women, infants and small children), one of the first places in
the world when treating acute myocardial infarction (a high level of cardiological care), the
mandatory vaccination system for children and youth, preventative dental care, diabetic
programmes and a well-functioning system for the life-long education of doctors.
The greatest weaknesses are the management and financing of healthcare and the system of
the Czech conception of health insurance. Experts are of the opinion that Czech health
insurance does not cover the requirements and needs of the patient, since the patient cannot
select the type of insurance (unlike some advanced countries). The criteria of the selection
could be, for example, the age of the patient, state of health, occupational safety, etc. The fact
that insurance companies in the Czech Republic do not control quality, but the focus of their
activities is administrative work, is also perceived critically in relation to health insurance
companies.
Repeated negative comments apply to the current single-component system of certification,
which is especially unsuitable for small, regional hospitals without an accredited workplace. 4
The implemented certification system is seen as financially and organisationally impassable
for Czech conditions by a majority of experts. Its lack of readiness is also evident in that
certification from fields that are not recognised elsewhere in the world are recognised in the
Czech Republic.
The inability of the legislation to resolve the patient’s contribution to healthcare and the
abuse of ambulatory services were also perceived critically.
Other negative aspects of Czech healthcare are the long waiting lists for planned operations
and a lack of beds and after-care facilities. The affect of the market in healthcare causes the
lobbying of pharmaceutical companies during the preference of selected pharmaceutical
products. The support of theoretical fields, which do not bring immediate effect (e.g.
biochemistry, microbiology) is not sufficiently-arranged in today’s healthcare.
3 “So far the threat of complaints and lawsuits for actions performed do not loom over doctors in the Czech
Republic.”
4 According to Act No. 95/2004, the certification system has only one stage. In practice this means a further five
years of education/fellowship at accredited workplaces. Small hospitals without credit do not have sufficient
funds to pay young doctors a fellowship for the specified time at accredited workplaces.
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