Some Hungarian doctors refusing to collect new visit fees

Several Hungarian doctors are refusing to collect the Ft 300 (€1.15) visitation fee that patients have been required to pay every time they see their doctor since February 15, writes mno.hu. Many doctors believe the regulation is unconstitutional.

Attila Nagy, a doctor from Debrecen, has urged his colleagues not to accept visit fees from their patients on the internet before it was introduced. Several doctors, mainly from Hajdú-Bihar County, joined his initiative.

"Some patients signed up for an examination before February 15 and were not informed about the visit fee," said Nagy. "They signed a paper stating they do not wish to pay. This way, I am protected."

Lajos Ari, the government official responsible for the introduction of the new fee, said that no official report had arrived about any doctor refusing to collect the charge. He added that if a doctor or institution refuses to collect it, the missing amount will be deducted from the supports provided by the state each month.

Ari also said that doctors and others often contact the ministry with comments and complaints, most of which he believes are due to misinterpretation of the regulation. But he said that other opinions should be considered, for example, those related to the treatment of patients with serious addictions.

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