Until recently, Czechs had to pay 30 crowns (just over one euro) for each doctor visit and the same amount for a prescription. These fees were introduced some time ago by the right-wing government of Mirek Topolánek with the aim of discouraging Czechs from visiting the doctor too often, citing EU statistics according to which Czechs indeed visited doctors more frequently than other Europeans.
For several months after the introduction of these measures, Czechs indeed visited doctors noticeably less, and it was possible to see any doctor with practically no waiting. Later, people got used to having to pay, and everything returned to normal.
The system changed several times, or rather became softer. At the very beginning, everyone had to pay, including children, and 30 crowns had to be paid for each item on a prescription. Then, 60 crowns had to be paid for each day spent in the hospital. All of this was gradually abolished.
What did not change was the very negative perception of the symbolic cash payments to doctors among the public. It is believed that the 30 crowns to doctors became the main reason for the failure of right-wing parties in several elections, and the promise to abolish these fees was the main trump card of the Social Democrats in the political struggle.
Now the Social Democrats are in power, and the promised abolition of fees has taken place. But doctors have long been accustomed to the additional income, and the government will now have to compensate them for the lost profits. 'We have managed to find funds to increase the insurance amount for those citizens for whom the state pays insurance (for example, pensioners). These funds should be sufficient to compensate doctors,' says Health Minister Svatopluk Němeček.
It should be noted that the fee of 90 crowns (approximately 3.5 euros) for an emergency room visit remains. The system of regulatory fees had nothing to do with compulsory health insurance. It was, is, and will be; all citizens and foreigners with permanent residence are participants, and the insurance covers most treatment costs.