Health Care in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This article discusses the health care reforms currently taking place in the Czech Republic which began after the collapse of the Communist regime in the fall of 1989. Since 1968 the 2 republics which make up the Czech Slovak Federative Republic (CSFR) have administered their health care systems separately. This article focuses only on health care in the Czech Republic examining the following issues: 1) health status; 2) health care providers resources and expenditures; 3) health care system history and current reform; 4) health care financing; 5) health services; 6) environmental and public health; and 7) the monitoring of the new health care system. The Czech Slovak Federative Republics (CSFR) overall state of health has lagged behind that of Western countries. Mortality rates for example are comparable to those found in the United Kingdom and West Germany in the 1950s. In the CSFR abortion is widespread while contraceptive use is low. In 1989 a group of specialists launched a campaign to bring health care reform to the Czech Republic; the government approved the groups recommendations the following year. The reforms are based on the following principles: universal access; greater freedom of choice for patients; multiple sources of financing; decentralization and demonopolization; public and private sector cooperation; increased autonomy of health care providers; and emphasis on ambulatory care disease prevention and health promotion. The new health care system will include both government and private sector monitoring mechanisms.