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HEALTHCARE
able to share the necessary information
with one another, and the state should
gain an overview of how the system is
functioning in real time.
The key is to eliminate today’s fragmentation.
There are numerous information systems
in place, and they often do not communicate
with one another. The amendment
therefore introduces mandatory digital
tools and standards, establishes clear
rules for interoperability, and strengthens
data security. We are moving towards
the creation of a functional electronic
healthcare ecosystem, with clearly
defined roles for each stakeholder,
unified communication standards,
and responsibility for data governance.
The result should be an environment
in which information about the patient
is available to authorised providers
without unnecessary duplicate
examinations. This saves time, financial
resources, and healthcare professionals’
capacity.
What should the proposed amendment
to the Public Health Insurance
Act change?
Czech healthcare is facing both
a demographic and an economic challenge.
The population is ageing, the cost of modern
treatment is rising, and the pressure on
public finances will continue to grow.
The amendment must place greater
emphasis on the efficiency and quality
of care. We are moving towards a system
that will reward not only the volume
of services provided, but the real benefit
to the patient. This includes more
rigorous assessment of cost-effectiveness
and more transparent decision-making on
reimbursement.
Prevention also plays a crucial role.
Investment in screening programmes,
early diagnosis, and support for a healthy
lifestyle delivers returns not only
in health terms, but economically as well.
Prevention must become an integral part
of the system’s financing, not merely
a secondary issue.
The system is funded mainly
by employees and companies. Should
they have a greater influence on
healthcare priorities?
Public health insurance is based on
the principle of solidarity, and that principle
should be preserved. The system’s priorities
must be determined by the public interest
and by professional criteria.
Employers can, however, play
an important role in the area of prevention
and in promoting a healthy working
environment. Programmes focused on
physical activity, the prevention of chronic
diseases, or support for mental health have
a demonstrable impact on employees’
quality of life as well as on productivity
at work.
I see the future in partnership
between the state, health insurers,
and employers, not in weakening
the solidarity-based nature of the system.
How do you see the future of prevention
in general?
Prevention is a key prerequisite for the long-
term sustainability of healthcare.
The Czech system is highly effective
in treating acute conditions, but we need
to strengthen support for the overall health
of the population.
This includes expanding screening
programmes, taking a systematic approach
to risk factors, supporting physical activity,
and preventing lifestyle-related diseases.
Equally important is mental health care,
which has a direct impact on people’s ability
to work and on the social stability of society.
Health is not solely a matter for healthcare
institutions. It is the result of the everyday
decisions made by individuals, as well as
the responsible policies of the state.
You mentioned mental health. What role
do you assign to it?
Mental health is a fully integral part
of overall health. In recent years, we have
seen an increase in mental health difficulties
across all age groups, particularly among
the younger generation.
We are continuing with the reform of mental
health care, with an emphasis on developing
community-based services and ensuring
that help is available early and close to where
people live. At the same time, it is essential
to work on destigmatisation, so that seeking
professional help is not seen as a failure,
but as a responsible step.
A stable and resilient society must
take mental health just as seriously as
the prevention of physical illness.
Another topic under discussion is
the competencies of nurses. Are you
planning any change?
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare. If
we want an efficient system, we must give
them the corresponding competencies
and conditions. That means greater
involvement in care management,
the possibility of expanded competencies
in both primary and chronic care,
and support for further education.
Expanding nurses’ competencies can also
ease the burden on doctors and improve
access to care. It is a modern approach that
works in a number of European countries.
New technologies are changing
healthcare faster than legislation can
keep up. How can the rules for their
use and implementation in practice be
ensured?
We need a flexible legal framework. It
must establish clear principles of safety,
patient protection, and accountability, while
at the same time leaving room for innovation.
We are setting up expert working groups
to monitor technological developments
and prepare recommendations for their
safe implementation in practice. Our goal is
for the Czech Republic to be a country that
supports innovation rather than blocks it,
while fully respecting patient safety.
Which change in healthcare do you
think will be the most politically difficult,
yet unavoidable?
The most challenging issue will be an open
and factual debate about the long-term
sustainability of healthcare financing.
Demographic and medical developments
mean rising costs that cannot be ignored.
It will be necessary to seek broad political
consensus while also leading a wider public
discussion about the system’s priorities.
Alongside this, we are facing a change
in mindset: a shift from a model focused
predominantly on treatment to one that
systematically supports health.
These steps require both courage
and responsibility. I am convinced that if
we want to preserve accessible and high-
quality healthcare for future generations, we
must implement these changes now.
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