Bratislava – The Slovak Hospital Association (ANS) in collaboration with other healthcare organizations has filed a complaint to the European Commission (EC) regarding the discriminatory application of a transaction tax in healthcare. The complaint concerns unequal treatment of healthcare facilities, as some healthcare providers are exempt from this tax, while others have to pay it. ANS informed TASR about this.
“The sector has united because we were still not receiving any relevant responses. It is discrimination and a violation of economic competition. Surely, someone in the same sector cannot be exempt from some obligation and another not,” said the first vice president of ANS, Igor Pramuk. Other organizations grouped in the healthcare section of the Association of Employers’ Unions and Associations (AZZZ) SR also joined the filing of the complaint.
According to ANS, it is not possible for state hospitals to have an exemption from the transaction tax while private healthcare providers and non-state hospitals have to fulfill this obligation. “This practice creates unequal conditions in the sector and can threaten the availability of healthcare for patients,” ANS warned.
ANS expects a quick response from the European Commission, which has previously dealt with similar cases of unjust access in healthcare. “When we previously filed a complaint under the recovery plan, the European Commission responded very quickly. We expect that this time they will also address this issue promptly,” added Pramuk.
Parliament approved the new financial transaction tax last fall, and representatives of hospitals and clinics criticized the changes back then. The law is effective from January 1, 2025, but the first taxable period will be April. Entrepreneurs will pay the new tax; it does not apply to ordinary citizens. In the healthcare sector, it will affect most healthcare providers except for state-funded organizations. AZZZ SR representatives are also discussing the issue with the Ministry of Health, which previously confirmed that they are negotiating with the financial department to find a solution. (February 17)
