Empty Operating Rooms Result From Insurance Limits, Not Doctor Laziness, Says Medical Union Leader

Slovakia's state hospitals are operating with very low utilization of their operating rooms, according to a recent government audit. Peter Visolajský, head of the Medical Trade Union Association (LOZ), argues that the blame lies not with hospital management or lazy doctors, but with contractual limits imposed by health insurance companies. The number of surgeries performed is determined by these insurance limits rather than hospital capacity or patient needs. When hospitals exceed their contracted limits, they operate at a financial loss, even for successfully treated patients whose procedures insurance companies refuse to pay for. Visolajský points out that these same insurance companies generate millions in dividends while restricting healthcare access. Slovakia operates a mixed public-private healthcare system where private health insurers contract with state hospitals for specific numbers of procedures, creating financial constraints that can limit patient access to necessary surgeries despite available medical facilities and staff.