The health care system as a new factor of competitiveness and the convergence program

Abstract

The new governmental and convergence programs have given a new impulse to the transformation of the health care system in Hungary. It is important how are the financial conditions of the ambulatory and hospital treatment assuring the medical attendance of the Hungarian population. The paper defines the health care system as a new factor of the national competitiveness, the functioning of which is widely affected by the fiscal-financial situation related to the new convergence program. The study demonstrates with empirical methods that the health care and the social security system can also face problems and difficulties if the budget deficit persists. The planned rationalisation measures in the health care system make difficult the reintegration of the socially marginalized people who do not participate to the division of labour. Due to the financial problems of the health care system, the medical prevention and the stable participation of the active labour force in the division of labour can not be assured, so the health care system as a new factor of competitiveness has to be developed. In the coming years it is reasonable to calculate with increasing tasks in the health care system, which does not mean more austerity, but more resources, since the health care system creates value and so it represents a new type of competitiveness.