Healthcare Professionals Demand Political Separation at Protest in Hungary
Demonstrators gather to address healthcare funding and systemic issues in Hungary's medical system.
On Saturday, a significant demonstration titled "Joint Stand for a Better Healthcare" was organized by the Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK) at Kossuth Square in Budapest.
The event, aimed at advocating for a politically neutral stance regarding healthcare, attracted a crowd of healthcare professionals, actors, and other specialists.
Parallel demonstrations were also held in Szeged.
The protest commenced with remarks from Tamás Svéd, the Secretary-General of MOK, who emphasized that healthcare should be regarded as a societal and national asset accessible to all.
Adrianna Soós, leader of the Independent Healthcare Trade Union, enumerated the various problems plaguing the Hungarian healthcare system, highlighting that the government intends to allocate only 4.2% of the GDP to healthcare in 2025—a figure she termed alarmingly insufficient.
Soós underscored the need for improvements in public healthcare services, as private healthcare remains a privilege reserved for the affluent.
Peter Srádi, President of the Hungarian Physicians' Union (MOSZ), articulated concerns about the prioritization of interests that leave health matters sidelined.
"Expenditures on health are not luxury spending but an investment in raising healthy children and, by extension, ensuring that grandparents are present for grandchildren," he asserted.
Mental health expert Orsolya Tapasztó addressed the issues within pediatric care, noting that over 100,000 children in Hungary currently lack a family doctor.
She pointed out that schoolchildren possess minimal knowledge of basic biological functions due to the absence of health education, while healthy nutrition remains financially inaccessible to many.
Furthermore, she remarked on the lack of a national mental health strategy, stating, "This system offers no protection for us or our children."
Doctor and opera singer András Hábetler shared his personal healthcare experiences, highlighting how he received timely treatment for kidney cancer due to his professional connections.
He emphasized that access to proper care should not depend on an individual's network.
"I would bring our Hungarian politicians here for just one night to experience what goes on in hospitals," he stated, reflecting on the conditions faced by patients and healthcare workers alike.
MOK President Álmós Péter remarked on the overall declining quality of public healthcare services, which he claimed no longer meets acceptable standards.
He noted that while dedication is crucial, it cannot substitute for necessary medical equipment, stating that Hungary trails behind even Romania and Bulgaria in terms of medical infrastructure.
The repercussions of austerity measures are evident in public health indicators, and he indicated that political interference in healthcare should cease as it jeopardizes patient well-being.
Péter announced plans for an healthcare roundtable, proposing that professional organizations collaborate to create a transparent, ten-year health strategy empowering both healthcare providers and patients.
He stressed the urgency of saving the primary care system, urging an immediate emergency response and an annual budget increase of 500 billion HUF to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery.
Notable figures, including actress Eliza Sodró and Gryllus Dorka, spoke at the event, while actor János Gálvölgyi sent a supportive letter that Svéd read to the audience.
The demonstration observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and those mourning their loss, underscoring the gravity of the healthcare crisis.
The Hungarian Medical Chamber initiated the protest with a pledge for a non-political approach to healthcare reform in response to decades without substantial improvements.
Claims have been made that Hungary spends significantly less than the EU average on healthcare, with reported spending at approximately 5% of GDP as opposed to the 8% average across European Union nations.
This shortfall is believed to contribute to poor health outcomes, including high cancer mortality rates and preventable deaths that claim around 60,000 lives annually due to inadequate screening and treatment services.
The event, aimed at advocating for a politically neutral stance regarding healthcare, attracted a crowd of healthcare professionals, actors, and other specialists.
Parallel demonstrations were also held in Szeged.
The protest commenced with remarks from Tamás Svéd, the Secretary-General of MOK, who emphasized that healthcare should be regarded as a societal and national asset accessible to all.
Adrianna Soós, leader of the Independent Healthcare Trade Union, enumerated the various problems plaguing the Hungarian healthcare system, highlighting that the government intends to allocate only 4.2% of the GDP to healthcare in 2025—a figure she termed alarmingly insufficient.
Soós underscored the need for improvements in public healthcare services, as private healthcare remains a privilege reserved for the affluent.
Peter Srádi, President of the Hungarian Physicians' Union (MOSZ), articulated concerns about the prioritization of interests that leave health matters sidelined.
"Expenditures on health are not luxury spending but an investment in raising healthy children and, by extension, ensuring that grandparents are present for grandchildren," he asserted.
Mental health expert Orsolya Tapasztó addressed the issues within pediatric care, noting that over 100,000 children in Hungary currently lack a family doctor.
She pointed out that schoolchildren possess minimal knowledge of basic biological functions due to the absence of health education, while healthy nutrition remains financially inaccessible to many.
Furthermore, she remarked on the lack of a national mental health strategy, stating, "This system offers no protection for us or our children."
Doctor and opera singer András Hábetler shared his personal healthcare experiences, highlighting how he received timely treatment for kidney cancer due to his professional connections.
He emphasized that access to proper care should not depend on an individual's network.
"I would bring our Hungarian politicians here for just one night to experience what goes on in hospitals," he stated, reflecting on the conditions faced by patients and healthcare workers alike.
MOK President Álmós Péter remarked on the overall declining quality of public healthcare services, which he claimed no longer meets acceptable standards.
He noted that while dedication is crucial, it cannot substitute for necessary medical equipment, stating that Hungary trails behind even Romania and Bulgaria in terms of medical infrastructure.
The repercussions of austerity measures are evident in public health indicators, and he indicated that political interference in healthcare should cease as it jeopardizes patient well-being.
Péter announced plans for an healthcare roundtable, proposing that professional organizations collaborate to create a transparent, ten-year health strategy empowering both healthcare providers and patients.
He stressed the urgency of saving the primary care system, urging an immediate emergency response and an annual budget increase of 500 billion HUF to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery.
Notable figures, including actress Eliza Sodró and Gryllus Dorka, spoke at the event, while actor János Gálvölgyi sent a supportive letter that Svéd read to the audience.
The demonstration observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and those mourning their loss, underscoring the gravity of the healthcare crisis.
The Hungarian Medical Chamber initiated the protest with a pledge for a non-political approach to healthcare reform in response to decades without substantial improvements.
Claims have been made that Hungary spends significantly less than the EU average on healthcare, with reported spending at approximately 5% of GDP as opposed to the 8% average across European Union nations.
This shortfall is believed to contribute to poor health outcomes, including high cancer mortality rates and preventable deaths that claim around 60,000 lives annually due to inadequate screening and treatment services.
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