Ildikó Horváth said that Ferenc Gyurcsány’s Socialist government in 2006-07 “closed down hospitals, layed off 5,000 employees from the health sector, stripped doctors of one month’s pay, and destroyed the centres of national health institutions”.

She insisted the opposition would now resort to those methods to resolve problems. Horváth also said the Fidesz government “has been able to reduce the damage” since 2010.

Speaking on public television, Horváth highlighted the government’s screening programme, under which specially equipped buses are sent to remote villages to help patients to as many check-ups as possible.

Horváth also mentioned the government’s colon cancer screening programme, launched a year ago, and said that early diagnosis through the scheme has so far helped save the lives of 415 patients.

MTI Photo: Varga György