Slovak Ombudsman Calls for Electronic Cash Registers in Healthcare Sector Worth 500 Million Euros

Slovak Ombudsman Róbert Dobrovodský has called for doctors to use electronic cash registers and issue receipts for patient payments, just like other service providers. He argued that while a craftsman at a market selling a small item must have an electronic cash register and issue a receipt or face a fine, the same rules should apply to doctors who collect 30, 40 or 50 euros from patients. Dobrovodský emphasized the scale of the issue, noting that the healthcare sector collects approximately 500 million euros in such payments annually. The ombudsman's comments highlight ongoing concerns about transparency and tax compliance in Slovakia's healthcare system, where patients routinely make direct payments to medical professionals for various services.