Topolanek promised Czech Prime Minister meets Berlusconi during Italian holiday ...
Czech KDU-CSL head says dispute over U.S.
report solved ... it during the debate on the amendment submitted by opposition Social Democrat (CSSD) shadow health minister David Rath to prevent the hospitals' transformation. So far the government politicians have said the cabinet will not privatise the teaching hospitals, but Health Minister Tomas Julinek (ODS) has repeatedly defended their transformation into joint-stock companies. "At the moment I clearly guarantee that the teaching hospitals will not to be transferred into joint-stock companies either by the ministry's or government's decision," Topolanek said. However, some opposition deputies said they do not trust Topolanek's promise. Rath therefore insists on his proposal that the hospital transformation be prevented. He said such steps should be taken by a law and only with the parliament's consent. Topolanek today promised to deputies that he would not circumvent parliament in the decision-making on teaching hospitals. Not only the opposition, but also some junior government Greens and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) have expressed doubts about the hospital transformation. They might support Rath's proposal. However, KDU-CSL chairman Jiri Cunek said he trusts Topolanek's promise. Moreover, he added that the proposed amendment would not solve the problem. Rath said Topolanek should order Julinek to ask hospital directors to halt the preparation of the transformation. A number of Czech universities have also sharply criticised the Health Ministry's planned changes in the teaching hospitals, saying they would worsen conditions for research and the education of medical students.
(Ceske Noviny)
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