Disappointing turn-out at Chamber of Hungarian Physicians rally

The Chamber of Hungarian Physicians discussed what they described as the increasingly dismal position of health care in Budapest on Saturday. Only a few hundred physicians showed up instead of the 10,000 anticipated by organisers.

Chamber president István Éger said in the keynote speech that it was thought that the arrival of new Health Minister Tamás Székely would bring more peaceful times, but "the previous practice is being pursued even more violently, albeit silently." Although the spring referendum abolished the fees paid by patients and "dug a grave for the multi-player health insurance system," the government's extra revenues were only sufficient for doctors to hang on to their practice, he said, and "slavery" has become a reality for health care staff.

The Chamber will hold another rally on November 8.

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