Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1 http://www.ceibs.edu/bmt/images/20110221/30199.pdf
2
http://www.oep.hu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/LAKOSSAG/OEPHULAK_ALTINF/
HEALTH%20INSURANCE/HEALTH_INSURANCE_PROLOGUE.PDF
and WHO European Region averages (WHO Regional Office for Europe,
2010).
Through all the issues, Hungarys constitution guarantees the
right to a healthy environment, to an optimal level of physical and
mental health, and to income maintenance benefits in the form of
social security. The central government handles most responsibility in
terms of social welfare and health care provision as well as issuing and
enforcing regulation. Following the 2010 elections of which the FideszKDNP party has been governing, the government initiated structural
change. This meaning that 8 new super ministries were formed. The
Ministry of Human Resources merged seven areas of former ministries
and is responsible for the fields of health care, education, social affairs,
culture and sports, social inclusion and church related sector. Under
this ministry they aim to bring about the conditions for enhancing
quality of life through the creation of a reliable and efficient system of
welfare provision, a healthcare system that takes into account the
needs of both patients and healthcare professionals.
Though Hungary has centralized power over the health care
system there are other actors involved. The main actors are grouped
into columns according to four main functions: stewardship/ownership,
service delivery, financing and public health. The nature of the
relationships between these actors is shown as being hierarchical (solid
3 Gal, P., Szigeti, S., Csere, M., Gaskins, M., and Panteli, D. Health
Care Systems in Transition: Hungary. Copenhagen: European
Observatory on Healthcare Systems, 2011.
4 Gal, P., Szigeti, S., Csere, M., Gaskins, M., and Panteli, D. Health
Care Systems in Transition: Hungary. Copenhagen: European
Observatory on Healthcare Systems, 2011.
Hungarys Health Care System as one can see is anything but simple.
Another interesting thing to stumble upon is that Hungary is a target
country in cross-border health care. Medical Tourism has been a
growing field in the healthcare system. It is surprising that, although
the measured satisfaction level with received care is fairly low,
Hungarians motivation to travel to another EU Member State for
medical treatment is very low compared with other EU countries, given
all the motivating factors, such as reducing waiting times for medical
treatment; receiving cheaper or better-quality care; receiving
treatment from a renowned specialist; and receiving treatment that is
not available at home (Lengyel, unpublished data, 2009). It is a target
country mainly for dental care but also for rehabilitative services, such
as medical spa treatment. Visitors can take advantage of great
healthcare for cheaper prices than theyd pay in their own countries.
Thus, the government sees the health industry as a potential strategic
area for economic development and growth.
The system is also responsible for providing social cares. This
includes long-term care, long-term nursing care, hospice, mental care,
dental care, and other services. For example they all differ in ways.
Long- term care is provided by health and social sectors. Location of
service provision is determined based on the patients health whereas
Long-term nursing care has different modes of provision (inpatient,
daytime hospital, outpatient and homecare.) Nursing care is under the