Healthcare needs reform, the system is in danger of collapsing in the future. The Ministry is preparing changes

CZECH REPUBLIC – At the end of last week, the Health Department presented an extensive long-term strategy that should prevent the entire health care system from gradually collapsing. As the extensive Strategic Analysis of Needs, commissioned by the Ministry of Health, indicates, there are a number of imminent problems. And the conclusion? Czech healthcare is approaching a state where it will not be economically sustainable. And if there is no timely intervention, the healthcare sector will not only lack finances, but also beds and personnel capable of providing adequate care.

Warning views

The fact that the need for pension reform is the subject of much discussion will also affect the healthcare sector in the future. The Czech population is aging and, according to statistics, the number of seniors who generally receive the highest amount of medical care will double in the next fifteen years. In addition, as the data indicate, within a decade, the number of diabetics will increase by a fifth, the number of patients with malignant tumors will increase by 30%, the incidence of heart failure will increase by two thirds, and the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease will also double. All this precisely as a result of the aging of the strong population years.

In addition, thousands of nurses will retire. And there is a relatively real risk that there will be no replacement for them. This is precisely why the Ministry of Health has drawn up an extensive strategy, which also defines the areas in which massive investment will be necessary in the coming years. Specifically, it concerns the education of health professionals, screening programs, geriatric care and also the transformation of the bed fund.

As the Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09) stated in this context, due to the potential overcrowding of the health system, it is necessary to start systematically supporting ambulatory and home care, to motivate young people to study relevant fields, and also to support the department’s electronicization. “We have to reform the principle of healthcare. Transfer acute beds to follow-up beds, prepare for new drugs and the like,” stated Válek.

Doctors are also missing

In addition to complex problems, the document also draws attention to the fact that certain skills are underrepresented in various regions. “Classically, this is pediatric care, an area of ​​practical medicine where a large part of practitioners are already of retirement age. There is also a lack of internists and neurologists in the regions. There are not enough of these specialists. As we age, the deficits will increase,” explained Jakub Hlávka, head of the Institute for Health Economics, Policy and Innovation, stating that it is not possible to just increase the capacity of medical faculties. On the contrary, it is necessary to start looking for ways to use existing specialists more effectively. Finally, the topic of overuse of medical care is related to this. However, the treatment of this issue is quite complicated. There is a risk that the introduction of any methodology to limit this practice could have a negative impact on the most vulnerable.

And further?

Regarding the specific plans of the Ministry of Health, Minister Válek wants to introduce online appointments to specialists by 2025, establish procedures after which it will be possible to leave the hospital and go home within 24 hours, and also set a new practice in the implementation of specialized procedures performed in centralized facilities . Válek also wants to increase the competence of non-medical personnel. However, according to the opposition, the government should have presented all these visions at the beginning of the election period and implemented the plans during its duration. It’s too late for anything now.