Health-care reforms in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Health-care reform is everywhere. Although different countries are moving at different speeds, using somewhat different means and different routes, they are all trying to arrive at the same place. The place is called "better value for money in health care". Presents details of the health-care reforms taking place in the Czech Republic, identifying and discussing the main strands of Czech reforms: the dissolution of the regional health authorities; the reorientation of district health authorities; the move to a pluralistic semi-competitive insurance-based system; hospitals receiving funding by winning contracts with purchasers; contracts becoming more sophisticated and being based on cost, volume and quality factors; changes in the incentives and rewards for GPs; the drive towards a primary-care-led health-care system; and privatization.