"Heves county general meeting on Friday decided to transfer the county hospital’s operating rights to HospInvest, which made the best offer, ahead of Debrecen University and the town of Eger. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is a major stakeholder in HospInvest.HospInvest offered Ft 100 million for operation rights and pledged to invest Ft 6 billion in development. It guaranteed public service employee benefits for hospital staff and plans no lay-offs over the next two years.
Debrecen University’s bid offered Ft 110 million for the operating rights, promised Ft 3 billion for development and planned the immediate dismissal of 285 staff. Eger local authority did not officially bid but offered to take over operations, carry out modernisation projects, and reduce only the number of clerical staff, but not nurses or doctors, in return for free operation rights.
Scuffles between security staff and protesters took place in the function hall during the meeting, with activists shouting that the hospital should be entrusted to one of the other contenders. Earlier in the day protesters blocked one lane of a road outside Eger.
Fidesz chairman Viktor Orbán meanwhile arrived in the town as part of his referendum campaign tour. Orbán said he would like to see hospitals and health centres remain public property “as the state ought to ensure financial conditions for their operation,” and warned against outsourcing such institutions in private deals."
Source: Hungary Around the Clock.
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03.03.2008