"Parliament passed the bill on introducing multi-player health insurance for a second time Monday afternoon by a ballot of 203-173 in a roll-call vote. President László Sólyom has no option but to sign the legislation within 15 days, having already sent it back once for reconsideration.The new insurance companies are expected to begin operations in February, 2009, unless the Constitutional Court rules differently.
In a final speech before the balloting, Health Minister Ágnes Horváth said everyone will have access to necessary health care services as the health insurance funds will not be able to choose their clients.
Socialist MP Mária Vojnik said the Constitution allows private capital to be involved in funding health care, while safeguards in the bill will lead to an improved health care service in which all patients will have equal access to medical treatment.
The current centralised health insurance fund is incapable of promoting the interests of the sick, Free Democrat Gábor Horn argued.
On the opposition side, Fidesz former health minister István Mikola said a multi-player system will evolve that will have nothing to do with providing high-quality health care, as it will focus on profits. He described the new system as a combination of the worst features of private and state-run social insurance systems.
The new system will lead to health care services centred in Budapest, while misery will be created in the provinces, said Christian Democrat Kálmán Nagy.
The Democratic Forum’s András Csáky expressed regret that Sólyom had not sent what the Forum considers an unconstitutional bill to the Constitutional Court for preliminary review.
Later Parliament voted 203-167 to reject a Fidesz initiative on a referendum on the health insurance bill.
Some 200-300 people protested against the newly passed bill and against the government outside Parliament Monday evening. After they knocked down part of the fence around Kossuth tér near 7 p.m., riot police pushed them away towards Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út. Police then sealed off the square. Police detained three demonstrators.
Of the coalition MPs, Battonya mayor József Karsai voted against the bill after a survey suggested that the vast majority of his constituents are against it. Several of his fellow Socialists shouted to him to “move over” (to the opposition) after he voted. Karsai told Magyar Hírlap later he does not care if he is expelled form the caucus, “as that would mean that the 50,000 people I represent would be expelled”.
Source: Hungary Around the Clock.
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12.02.2008