Council of Ministers approves amendments to law on “Order of Medics”
Following the recent scandal at the Oncological Hospital the Government announced that it would amend the law on the Order of Medics. Investigations into the scandal at the Oncological Hospital revealed that doctors were pressuring patients to choose their private clinics for treatment.
Why is this significant
The amendments approved in the Council of Ministers aim to prevent conflicts of interest for medical professionals who work in public health structures while simultaneously owning or being employed at private medical clinics.
Context
One of the most important amendments concerns the establishment of a public register to ensure transparency regarding the employment of healthcare professionals in public health structures and their private practices. Additionally, a cap has been set on the number of hours a physician working in the public sector can dedicate to private practice.
Heads of departments or medical school directors will be prohibited from owning or managing private clinics. Those in such positions will need to resign from their public health roles if they wish to maintain their private clinics. The law also outlines disciplinary measures, which can include the revocation of a medical license for violations.
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