Orbán Issues Urgent Tasks to Finance Minister Mihály Varga
According to recent publications in the official gazette, the Finance Minister is required to take immediate action.
The government has decided to increase this year's budget for the Health Insurance Fund's Curative-Preventive Care. Finance Minister Mihály Varga is tasked with securing 63 billion 439 million 700 thousand forints immediately.
The directive, signed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, does not specify the source of the funds. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér has been given a deadline until mid-May to propose measures necessary for ensuring the operation of inpatient care facilities for the remainder of the year.
At a recent government press briefing, the Finance Minister mentioned that the issue of hospital debt settlement is on the agenda. Although 63 billion forints may seem substantial, a recent report by Népszava indicated that the outstanding bills increase by 20 billion forints monthly, and by the end of March, the total hospital debt had already reached 110 billion forints.
Additionally, the government has ruled that Finance Minister Mihály Varga must immediately reallocate 8 billion 224 million 349 thousand 414 forints from the Central Residual Settlement Fund to the Bethlen Gábor Fund.