Healthcare reorganization is a widely debated topic nowadays in Hungary. The restructuring affects almost the whole whale chain from central funding to Hospital venues and doctor positions. Hungary wants to build a better and less costly public healthcare system and it is a hard and painful process.

This is why I was surprised about a small article I found in a July issue of Webuser magazine. In the “Best new Website” section one of the site’s they write about is called “Treatment in Hungary”. As the Webuser article wrote “Getting medical treatment in Hungary may seem drastic, but it could save you up to 70 per cent on UK costs.”

Now there are at least two reasons why I should not be surprised about this. First of all, I myself also visit a private dental clinic and not a public dental doctor’s office. Their level of proficiency is rather excellent, their knowledge is regularly updated and the clinic is equipped with first-class equipments. Their service really is world-class level. Secondly, the prices are even acceptable to me, meaning it would probably be considered cheap in some Western-European countries.

Probably the same is true for the other medical areas covered by “Treatment in Hungary”. So should I be surprised then again? Private healthcare prospers in Hungary, not the least thanks to the high volume of satisfied foreign visitors. My only remaining question is how this affects the public healthcare system? Is there any positive effect that will be generated or is the current gap going to be even larger? Is this a business opportunity public healthcare could even consider to enter (e.g. using the incoming funds to cross-financing the treatment of Hungarians)? Or is this such a field of operation where public healthcare systems cannot and should not try to move into? Anyhow, they probably won’t for some years, the reorganization keeps those doctors busy who do not lose their jobs. In the meantime, other well trained doctors, assistants and nurses are moving to Western and Northern Europe well they get a much better salary and better working environments.

Disclaimer: I do not have any ownership or financial interest in the operation and business of the Treatment in Hungary website or Websuser magazines . I’m just a simple curious Hungarian citizen, usually treating himself in Hungary, as long as I can afford it

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