Defence And Internal Security Committee To Visit The Hospital

Minister of Defence Dr. Imre Szekeres gave the committee an account of the events and circumstances preceding the establishment of ÁEK, the period that has passed since the foundation, and the future of the institute. As it is known ÁEK – which also provides health care services for civilians, in addition to the employees of internal security and law enforcement organs and their family members – was founded slightly less then two years ago, on 1 July, 2007. The time that had passed since that day gives us the opportunity to draw the conclusions and learn the lessons, to identify future possibilities and tasks.

The defence minister also reported to the committee that it would be useful to consider the merger of the institutes that operate duplicately in two sites at the moment, in Róbert Károly Boulevard and Podmaniczky Street, which would also allow the merger of several functions that are provided simultaneously for the time being. In the opinion of the minister if the institute operated in only one location, it would make operations significantly more efficient, and this statement is also underpinned by the impact assessment studies that have been completed to date. This investment would cost 34 billion forints, calculating with the current costs, and would last 28 months. It could be financed by selling some 70 properties, and the MoD put together a portfolio specifically for this purpose.

In addition to Defence Minister Dr. Szekeres, Minister of Health Dr. Tamás Székely and the senior management of ÁEK also attended the session and gave extensive and immediate replies to the questions of Members of Parliament. MP Lajos Molnár even inquired about the price the hospital pays for purchasing one roll and the monthly telephone bill of the institute, besides other questions. As he admitted later, his seemingly hairsplitting questions were aimed at finding out if the manager in charge of financial affairs has a proper overview of the expenses of the institute managed by him. Since Mr Molnár was given an exact and immediate answers to nearly all his questions, he said: now he is ascertained that the financial management of the hospital is in good hands, for in most of the places financial managers cannot come up with immediate answers from memory to these cross-questions.

Mr János Lázár, the chairman of the committee believed it is important to confirm that no critical remarks were made during the question and answer session or in the form of personal opinions as regards the professional perparation and performance of the institute and its employees, since everyone believed these are absolutely positive features. Every participant who contributed to the Q&A session agreed that the hospital provides 21st century health care services and can set the benchmark for other hospitals as well. Although it is true that beyond the funding provided by the National Health Insurance Fund (OEP) the Ministry of Defence also significantly contributes to the budget of the institute but the premium service can be interpreted as an extra benefit for the employees of the armed forces and their family members. This is reflected in both the quality and availability of equipments and the preparedness of physicians, as well as their productivity indices and statistical data. The members of the committee could see that for themselves, for after their questions had been answered they inspected the institute ‘from cellar to attic’, or more precisely, from the basement where transport services are provided by robots, to the roof that has a landing pad for helicopters.