Alarming reality: How the Hungarian healthcare system is failing patients

Hospitals turning away stroke victims, wards closing for lack of specialists, and patients travelling hundreds of kilometres for basic care; this is the daily reality of the Hungarian healthcare system. While officials downplay the crisis, new data and frontline accounts reveal a system buckling under years of neglect, staff shortages and more.

Hungarian healthcare system failing?

As Telex writes, despite government attempts to conceal the mounting issues within the Hungarian healthcare system, data from official designation decisions paints a grim picture. Since 2020, more than 1,000 hospital ward closures or service suspensions have been recorded due to reasons ranging from broken equipment and staff shortages to bedbug infestations. Telex’s investigative outlet, Direkt36, compiled a comprehensive database revealing that closures affect not only rural facilities but also major hospitals in Budapest. These disruptions, often caused by the absence of even a single doctor, showcase a dangerously fragile system that fails to meet patient needs consistently.

Critical care services in jeopardy

One-third of all recorded ward closures stem from a lack of medical professionals or necessary equipment, with stroke, CT diagnostics, and neurological care most affected. Stroke care, which requires immediate treatment, has seen over 160 closures in just five years, posing a direct threat to patient survival. Maternity and paediatric services are also under constant strain, particularly since the government’s gratuity ban, which has led to an exodus of specialists from public institutions to private clinics. Experts warn that these service gaps significantly compromise patient safety across the Hungarian healthcare system.

Insane distances

Ward closures have resulted in patients, especially those in critical condition, being transferred hundreds of kilometres for treatment. Examples include burn victims being moved from Debrecen to Budapest, and premature births requiring relocation from Pécs to Szeged. These transfers place immense stress on both patients and paramedics, while adding travel and emotional burdens to families. The lack of localised, stable care underscores systemic weaknesses and stresses even further how the Hungarian healthcare system is often operating at or beyond its limits.

Shortage of specialists

Institutions like Hetényi Géza Hospital in Szolnok represent the crisis, having reported more than 75 ward closures due to a shortage of specialists. In many cases, a department’s operation hinges on a single doctor. Meanwhile, hospitals remain silent or defensive when questioned, and the Ministry of the Interior continues to avoid accountability. As court rulings and expert testimonies confirm, healthcare workers are burning out while maintaining basic services. Without comprehensive reform, the Hungarian healthcare system risks collapse, driven by years of neglect and underinvestment.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com