The political economy of Slovak and Czech health policy: 1989-2000

After 1989, the Czech and Slovak health-care systems followed dissimilar policies. Change was faster, more profound and more experimental in the Czech Republic. But after 10 years there are clear similarities in their health status achievements and systemic problems. By showing how a common past and a similar insurance-based finance model interact with commitments to universal access, the common outcomes and problems are explained. It is argued that greater spending, rather than privatization, has improved health-care outcomes since transition began. It is also argued that most of the key problems with the two systems are finance related.