Web-economic-crisis-health-systems-and-health-web

Czech Republic
Tomáš Roubal and Jan Šturma
Economic trends
• Real per capita GDP growth in the Czech Republic slowed in 2008 and
was negative in 2009 and 2010. The deficit increased in 2009 although it
decreased in subsequent years.
• Unemployment remains low.
• Ten-year bond rates decreased relative to other countries in Europe after
2009.
• Government spending on health as a share of the budget has remained
fairly steady during the crisis. In 2010, growth in OOP and public
spending per capita was negative, although both returned to positive
growth in 2011 (Czech Republic: Figs 1 and 2).
Policy responses
Changes to public funding for the health system
• Total spending on health fell between 2007 and 2011, remained stable
between 2011 and 2012 and was expected to fall by 1% in 2013 as a result
of cuts in reimbursement of hospitals, outpatient clinics and ancillary
services (laboratory tests).
• The Ministry of Health budget decreased in 2010 and public investments
have since remained low.
• SHI revenues increased slightly between 2008 and 2012 through the use
of reserves and deficit spending.
• Contributions paid by the government on behalf of the economically
inactive have been frozen since 2010 but rose slightly in 2014.
• The ceiling on contribution income for employees was abolished,
increasing differences in contributions paid by employees and selfemployed
people (2013).
• There are plans to increase the contributions paid by people without
taxable income and to abolish some exemptions from paying contributions
from 2014.