http://budapest.cafebabel.com/en/ en Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:27:14 +01:00 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Dotclear http://budapest.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/02/07/Magyar-egeszsegugy#c169 urn:md5:c9242f99048287d5885b092dd024f50e Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:41:16 +02:00 katya <p>I have been living in Hungary all my life until 2 years ago when I moved to the US. Indeed, every health care system has its pros and cons. Nevertheless, people's health should NEVER be considered a business, neither it should be one's privilege to be able to visit a doctor when he or she is sick. I have heard much criticism about the Hungarian system, the visit fees etc. However, i firmly believe (and based on my personal experience) it still is superior to the US system. I do not have health insurance here. Only if you can pay hundreds of dollars every month you can get a decent insurance, everything else is worthless (most of your treatment will be denied anyway). I frankly hope that Hungary will preserve its social support and will preserve some of its socialist elements from pre-1989 Hungary.</p> http://budapest.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/02/07/Magyar-egeszsegugy#c158 urn:md5:448b43fa853fcd76bc12aaa5bfc267d3 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:58:17 +01:00 phaedra <p>First of all, making people pay for health care should not be an idea of a socialist party at all. Socialist are supposed to be working on issues such as social security. Consequently, it is "normal" and not surprizing that the "reform" was introduced by a right-wing party in the Czech Republic and not by so-called left-wing parties like the Hungarian MSZP + Liberals.</p> <p>About the little sums one had to put in doctors' and nurses' pockets: it has never been compulsory. You could give an envelope if you were contented with the service you have been provided. If some doctors expected extra money that only gives a proof of their own unethical attitude but does not apply for the whole system.</p> <p>Also, I would mention the salary people in health care are working for in Hungary. It is not competitive by any means with the salaries in "old" EU countries, and it is not a high salary compared to what you can earn in other fields of employment in Hungary (which probably mean a lot less responsibility, and obviously less years of studying and preparation for a profession and not simply a job.) Considering this I would not say that the "envelope system" was complete crap, at least then you could give your own doctor some reward for the treatment you got instead of paying a sum to the state (a state that does not change anything to the better) from which the nurses and doctors do not see a penny.</p> <p>Well, this is what I wanted to add to this article.</p>