hospital

Will the world’s longest-living Olympic Champion, Ágnes Keleti, be buried in Israel?

Will the world's longest-living Olympic Champion, Ágnes Keleti, be buried in Israel

Israeli media outlets wrote that the world’s longest-living Olympic Champion, Ágnes Keleti, should be buried in Israel since she had Israeli citizenship. Here’s how the champion’s family decided about her burial.

Ágnes Keleti passed away after a short disease

Ágnes Keleti, the world’s longest-living Olympic Champion passed away on 1 January in Budapest’s Honvédkórház (military hospital). Keleti was hospitalised after Christmas after her state became critical. Rafael Bíró-Keleti, the younger son of the Hungarian Olympic champion, told Hungarian media then that she suffered from pneumonia and her condition worsened on Christmas Day. Therefore, she was taken to the military hospital of Budapest.

Phlegm blocked her trachea, so even doctors gave her little chance of surviving. Thankfully, the medical team managed to suck the phlegm. Therefore, she could breathe and even smile again. Mr Bíró-Keleti said the entire family hoped then that they would be able to celebrate the Olympic champions’s 104th birthday on 9 January together. Sorrowfully, the outstanding athlete’s body gave up the struggle, and she passed away on 1 January.

ágnes keleti oldest olympic champion passes away
Ágnes Keleti on 26 April 2024. Photo: MTI/Hegedüs Róbert

Barely survived the Holocaust

Keleti, born Klein, began her athletic journey in 1937, and, by 1940, she won the first national championship. Then, her career was halted by the discriminatory laws of Hungary, and she could barely survive the Holocaust using falsified identity papers under an assumed name in Szalkszentmárton. But her father never returned from the death camps. Her mother and her sister were rescued by Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.

After the war, she continued her sports career and earned a degree from the College of Physical Education. Between 1947 and 1956, Keleti amassed an unparalleled 46 national titles, including ten all-around championships and seven team victories. She remains the most decorated Hungarian gymnast, a testament to her unparalleled skills and dedication.

1952 and 1956 Olympics put the glory on her exceptional work

In 1954, at the World Championships in Rome, she claimed two golds, one silver and a bronze. A last-minute ankle injury prevented her from performing at the 1948 Olympics, but in 1952, she secured one gold, one silver and two bronzes. Her crowning achievement came at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where she won four gold medals (floor, balance beam, uneven bars, and team with hand apparatus) and two silvers. At 35, she became the oldest gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal, setting a record that endures to this day.

Ágnes Keleti
Photo: FB/MOB

With a total of 10 Olympic medals—five gold, three silver, and two bronze—Keleti ranks as Hungary’s most decorated female Olympian and second only to fencing legend Aladár Gerevich among Hungarian athletes.

Finishing her competitive career, Keleti began teaching and training the next generations. She worked in Hungary, Israel, and briefly in Italy. Her contributions extended beyond sport; she earned numerous accolades, including the Fair Play Lifetime Achievement Award, the Prima Primissima Award, and honorary citizenship in Budapest, Újpest, and Terézváros. In 2023, a documentary titled Conquering Time by Oláh Kata celebrated her life, earning recognition from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

Will she be buried in Israel?

Since she was an Israeli national, Israeli media raised the issue of burying the Hungarian Olympic legend in the country. However, the family seems determined. They would like to bury her in Budapest. The date of the burial is at noon on 9 January, the exceptional athlete’s birthday, Nemzeti Sport wrote. The venue is the Budapest Jewish Cemetery on Kozma Street.

Keleti’s death marks the end of an era, leaving Charles Coste, a French cyclist and 1948 Olympic gold medalist, as the oldest living Olympic champion. Ágnes Keleti’s legacy, however, remains eternal, inspiring generations to come.

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UPDATE

German tourist paid a shocking fee in Hungarian hospital for VIP care – MP pressed charges

The Uzsoki Hospital is in Budapest’s 14th district, Zugló, represented by Ákos Hadházy, a well-known Hungarian anti-corruption politician, in the Hungarian National Assembly. Mr Hadházy shared documents that a German tourist had to pay EUR 1,650 for VIP care in July in the hospital, a fee higher than what German private hospitals demand for similar treatment and examination. He suspects fraud, so he pressed charges against the healthcare institution, which no longer communicates with him.

German tourist chose VIP care instead of waiting for hours

Mr Hadházy shared the details of the suspicious issue on his official Facebook page. The MP of Zugló wrote that a German tourist, being in Budapest with her husband on a boat trip, struggled with high blood pressure and headache. Therefore, an ambulance doctor recommended that she should visit the Uzsoki Hospital. There, the employees offered them two options. The tourists could wait 6-8 hours to get proper medical help or pay for VIP care. They chose the latter, and the doctor made a head CT and X-ray on the woman, Hadházy cleared.

First, the hospital wanted them to pay in cash on the spot without getting an invoice. However, the husband refused to do so. Later, they got an invoice via email, so they paid the EUR 1,650 examination fee. However, the insurance company of the German couple refused to reimburse the costs because the invoice did not detail what examinations the doctor conducted.

VIP care unit of the Uzsoki Hospital
The VIP unit of the Uzsoki Hospital. A good place to get better. Photo: FB/Hadházy

A Hungarian doctor friend of the couple living in Germany tried to help, but the hospital told her that they never issue euro invoices. That is when the issue became problematic.

Uzsoki Hospital is more expensive than German hospitals

Since the Hungarian friend could not get any details from the hospital, the couple turned to them and asked for a detailed invoice, which they received. It came to light that the Uzsoki Hospital’s VIP costs were multiple times higher than those of the private medical institutions in Germany. According to Szeretlek Magyarország, in Germany, the maximum cost of the service would have been EUR 1,000.f

The events took place in July. Since then, the hospital told Hadházy that the doctors and nurses of the hospital work at the VIP unit, but beyond their work time. Therefore, patients do not pay for the hospital but for private service providers. The service provider in contract with the organiser of the German couple’s boat trip was Smart Hospital Ltd, so the invoice was issued by them.

The VIP unit at the Uzsoki Hospital
The VIP unit is to the right. Photo: FB/Hadházy

That company is in the ownership of a Hévíz Fidesz councillor, János Gelencsér. Hévíz is a charming small town near Lake Balaton, known for the many Russian tourists who visited it before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Hadházy believes the head CT and the X-ray were made using hospital equipment because such devices are unavailable at the VIP unit. Therefore, he suspects fraud and reported the issue to the police.

The invoice and the detailed bill
The invoice (l) and the details of the examination (r). Shockingly high prices. Photo: FB/Hadházy

The hospital did not even try to reveal the circumstances

Hadházy criticised the hospital’s fairness since the institution failed to reveal the circumstances during an internal inquiry.

In another case, a Hungarian citizen received a date for knee replacement surgery in the Uzsoki Hospital for 2026. But after he paid HUF 2 million (EUR 4,883) to the doctor, he did the surgery at the “VIP unit”.

Hadházy slammed the process, saying that ordinary people must wait hours and sometimes even years for examination, treatment or surgery, while others can buy extra services for money. He believes that, in general, it is not the doctors or nurses who should be blamed for that business. Hadházy says the Hungarian government intentionally underfinances the sector, so hospitals must be creative to gain money.

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Critical failures disrupt services at Budapest hospital: Equipment failures, burst pipes, resignations

Over the past month, healthcare services at Budapest’s Szent János Hospital have been repeatedly disrupted. Broken equipment, staff resignations, and other challenges forced the hospital to cancel certain treatments, causing notable interruptions. Key issues included a malfunctioning CT scanner, reduced capacity in the trauma ward, and staff shortages in the internal medicine department, which led to patient transfers and discharges.

Health expert Zsombor Kunetz detailed the events on his social media platform, while the hospital confirmed the disruptions to Telex, stating that all acute patients received care, either at the hospital or in partner institutions.

Szent János Hospital Budapest
The building of the New Szent János Hospital and Specialist Clinic of the North-Central Buda Centre, Kútvölgyi Block, on the day of the architectural handover ceremony, 20 December 2022. Photo: MTI/Soós Lajos

A timeline of the incidents:

  • 2 November: Acute neurosurgery services were suspended for 24 hours due to a gastrointestinal infection outbreak among staff. Non-trauma cases were temporarily redirected to the Dr. Manninger Jenő Trauma Centre.
  • 7 November: A burst pipe in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department halted patient admissions overnight.
  • 8–13 November: A CT scanner failure caused delays in critical areas, including trauma, stroke, and emergency services. Despite repairs, further disruptions were anticipated during scheduled maintenance on 28 November.
  • 18 November: The trauma ward announced reduced capacity due to resource limitations, ceasing service for patients from the 11th and 22nd districts.
  • Late November: Six internal medicine staff members resigned, leaving the department struggling to maintain operations. Reduced bed availability led to patient transfers and early discharges.
  • 2 December: Sterilisation equipment failure disrupted trauma services, with only partial recovery the following evening.
  • 4–7 December: Pediatric trauma surgeries were suspended due to maintenance in the operating rooms.

The North-Buda Szent János Centrum Hospital emphasised that these events are publicly documented in the National Public Health and Pharmacy Center’s reports. In response to inquiries, the hospital stated that acute care continued without interruption, while elective surgeries were rescheduled as needed. Patient transfers were coordinated by the National Ambulance Service.

The hospital, which serves between 200,000 and 800,000 residents depending on the speciality, highlighted the dedication of its medical staff. Despite the challenges, they are committed to ensuring safe patient care. Efforts by the hospital’s leadership, procurement agencies, and service providers aim to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.

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Brutal accident: Bus crashes into tram in Budapest, many injured – PHOTOS

A tram and bus collision in Budapest’s XIV district early Tuesday morning left seven people injured, including one in critical condition, and caused significant disruption to public transport.

Brutal accident in District 14

As Szeretlek Magyarország reports, a serious accident occurred at dawn on Tuesday in Zugló, at the intersection of Nagy Lajos király Road and Telepes Street in Budapest’s District 14. A tram and bus collided shortly after 6 am, leaving seven people hospitalised, one in a life-threatening condition, according to the National Ambulance Service. The incident disrupted public transport, with tram services on routes 3 and 62 replaced by buses between Bosnyák Square and Mexikói Road, and several bus routes, including 124, 125, 125B, and 277, were rerouted. On-site recovery was completed by mid-morning, and traffic resumed, BKK Info reported.

Bus crashes into tram in Budapest
MTI/Mihádák Zoltán

Bus crashes into tram in Budapest
MTI/Mihádák Zoltán

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Has the ambulance service in Budapest collapsed? – spokesperson reacts

Ambulance car budapest healthcare ambulance service in Budapest

Amid growing pressure on the ambulance service in Budapest, a recent Facebook post raised urgent questions about the city’s emergency response capabilities. A health analyst judges the National Ambulance Service harshly, while its spokesperson praises its efficiency and swiftness.

Lack of available ambulance vehicles

According to Index, on Saturday, the ambulance service in Budapest faced severe strain, leaving 35 emergency calls unattended due to a shortage of available vehicles. Notably, cases of choking were among those left on the waiting list, a troubling sign of the city’s current emergency response capacity. Health analyst Zsombor Kunetz criticised the situation as disgraceful for a major European city like Budapest, underscoring that this level of risk necessitates accountability from management. The Hungarian Ambulance Workers’ Association (MOMSZ) reported that patient delays are commonplace, often worsened by the reliance on 18 ambulance units dispatched from other regions rather than directly from Budapest.

Zsombor Kunetz criticised the recent incident as the following:

This is a level of endangerment that cannot fail to hold the management accountable, Gábor Csató, Director General, and György Pápai, Medical Director, should have been sacked yesterday! A disgrace in the middle of Europe in a city of 2 million people! And seriously, this organisation has taken over the emergency rooms.

Spokesperson reacts

Index contacted the National Ambulance Service spokesperson, Pál Győrfi, to react to the Facebook post by MOMSZ. According to Győrfi, the Facebook post shows complete ignorance or a deliberate misinterpretation of the situation. He described the incident as a smear campaign by the MOMSZ and Zsombor Kunetz. In addition, he praised the ambulance service in Budapest for being well-organised. He said:

The posted monitor picture does not illustrate a failure but is part of the regular and proper operation of the ambulance management. Despite the increasing number of tasks, the ambulance response time for emergency P1 cases has remained within 15 minutes in the recent period, which is also due to the dynamic reinforcement of the ambulance capacity in Budapest, the planned redeployment of ambulance units, among other measures.

Győrfi Pál spokesperson
Photo: Facebook / Győrfi Pál

Misleading screenshot?

The spokesperson for the National Ambulance Service clarified that rescue managers in Budapest use multiple monitors and a computer-assisted decision support programme to assign tasks to the correct rescue units based on urgency and protocol. According to Pál Győrfi, the ambulance service in Budapest handles over 1,000 of the country’s daily 3,600-3,800 cases, ensuring that the most urgent, life-threatening incidents are prioritised swiftly and managed to a high professional standard.

He explained: “To pick out a screenshot from the complex process of rescue management is surely misleading, as there are always tasks on the triple screen that can be deferred, (for example level P3, which is a task that does not require immediate lifesaving intervention), and therefore, are not yet assigned to a rescue unit. In addition, at a given moment in time, even the highest priority tasks may be visible, as they appear briefly on the triple screen before they are assigned to the rescue unit and the unit starts to execute the task”.

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Midwife’s leaflet sparks controversy in Hungary

Midwife's leaflet sparks controversy in Hungary pregnancy prenatal baby credit

Midwife advice leaflet stirs controversy: should expectant mothers really be prepping meals and ironing shirts for their husbands, or is it time for a more modern approach to family support? Momentum politician shares her thoughts in a Facebook post, State Secretary for Health reacts.

Outdated advice from a midwife’s handout?

Blikk reports that a recent social media discussion has highlighted advice given in a midwife’s leaflet to pregnant women, suggesting they prepare meals and iron clothes for their husbands before going into the hospital. This guidance, provided by a midwife, has sparked debate, with Szeged-based Momentum politician Noémi Halász criticising it as outdated. Halász argues that in today’s world, where many women work and contribute equally to household income, domestic responsibilities should be shared more equitably. She contends that while family support has traditionally helped mothers, relying solely on the mother-to-be to maintain the home is no longer practical or fair.

Midwife's leaflet sparks controversy in Hungary pregnancy
Photo: depositphotos.com

Supporting women

Halász emphasises the significant physical, psychological, and hormonal challenges that come with motherhood, suggesting it’s crucial for family members to support the new mother instead of adding to her burdens. Reflecting on past practices, she acknowledges that previous generations could lean on extended family or community support; however, today’s working mothers deserve a self-sufficient household where everyone contributes to chores. This modern approach, she insists, respects the realities of contemporary family life and the evolving role of women, making shared responsibility vital in ensuring new mothers can focus on recovery and bonding with their newborns.

What do men think about this?

Some men found the advice from the midwife’s leaflet outdated and offensive, suggesting it reinforces unfair stereotypes about gender roles within the household. Others pointed out that men, too, increasingly take active roles in caregiving and household duties, with some even involved in home births, challenging the leaflet’s assumptions about family dynamics.

Péter Takács, State Secretary for Health, also reacted to Halász’s Facebook post. He writes:

As you explain later, this leaflet is a private company publication, nothing to do with the government.
While I myself find the content outrageous, please remove the false context in the post. Indeed, what is written in the booklet in no way reflects the position of the health government. I myself will do my utmost to ensure that the network of midwives distributes only professionally correct, non-commercial and family-friendly publications to pregnant women.
With many thanks from a father of 5 who irons his own shirts.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian boy wanted to take a photo in Norway – tragedy followed (18+)

A 13-year-old Hungarian boy died when he fell into the Bondhuselva river near the town of Sunndal, in south-western Norway, the news portal vg.no said on Monday.

The boy slipped, lost his balance and fell into the river from a rock while seeking to take pictures during a family excursion, the portal said, citing Norwegian police.

It took a rescue team two hours to lift the boy from the river. All efforts to resuscitate him have failed, a local police chief told the portal.

His parents are also hospitalised in a state of shock, according to the portal.

Telex wrote that the boy wanted to take a photo, but slipped on a rock.

Read also:

  • Tragedy: Young foreigner drowns in Lake Balaton (18+) – read more HERE

Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian Olympic champion was rushed to the ER

Hungarian Olympic champion rushed to the ER

Hungarian Olympic champion Henrietta Ónodi, celebrated for her gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Games, is battling serious health issues following a heart attack in March. After two months in rehabilitation, the former gymnast remains in critical condition, with her family rallying support to cover the overwhelming medical expenses.

Her family seeks help

VG reports that Henrietta Ónodi, a Hungarian Olympic champion and 38-time national titleholder, has faced severe health challenges after suffering a heart attack in March. Following her emergency surgery to address a near-complete blockage in her arteries, she spent the last two months in a long-term care rehabilitation hospital before a recent transfer to the emergency room. Her sister, Barbara Ónodi-Klausler, has been actively updating supporters and expressed gratitude for the nearly USD 36,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign. The funds, donated by over 600 people, aim to help cover the exorbitant medical expenses, with a goal of reaching half a million dollars.

Hungarian Olympic champion suffers heart attack

Ónodi, who won gold in the vault at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, has been residing in the United States with her family since ending her competitive gymnastics career in 1997. The former gymnast’s health crisis began on 28 March, when she collapsed in a Florida grocery store and was rushed to the hospital. Despite her heart stopping several times during the journey, doctors were able to stabilise her condition through life-saving surgery. The Hungarian Olympic champion’s family continues to seek support to manage the high costs of her ongoing treatment. Her sister, Barbara, writes:

They started treatment at the hospital, which has made her feel somewhat better, but her pain is still significant. However, her appetite has improved and she is taking her medication properly.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com

Hungarian swimmer hospitalised after swimming in the Seine amid health concerns

bettina fábián pálinka swimming seine swimmer Paris

A 19-year-old Hungarian swimmer, Bettina Fábián, who finished fifth in the 10 km open-water race during the Paris Olympics, was taken to hospital after falling ill following the event. Fábián, who competed in the Seine, experienced nausea and a fever, likely caused by something ingested from the river, necessitating IV treatment.

Many hospitalised after swimming in the Seine

bettina fábián pálinka swimming seine swimmer Paris
Photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

Fábián shared on social media that she started vomiting during the night and later developed a fever. She noted that several other competitors, including Germany’s Leonie Beck, also fell ill after swimming in the river, which flows through central Paris, Világgazdaság reported based on MTI.

Despite the ordeal, Fábián is now recovering and is on her way back to Hungary. The swimmer humorously mentioned that she attempted to disinfect herself after the race with a shot of pálinka, a traditional Hungarian spirit – we reported this HERE.

Hungary’s open-water swimmers have performed exceptionally well in the Seine despite concerns over the river’s pollution. Following Fábián’s 5th-place finish, Kristóf Rasovszky won gold, and Dávid Betlehem took bronze in the 10 km race on Friday.

Fábián is expected to head straight to Kopaszi Dam in Budapest from the airport on Saturday to meet with fans and the media at the Hungarian team’s fan zone, with her arrival anticipated between 16:00 and 16:30, Világgazdaság writes.

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Accident at Sziget Festival: ambulance rushed to nearby hospital

Sziget Festival Budapest

An artist suffered an accident at the Sziget Festival’s Cirque du Sziget. An ambulance was called, which took him to a Budapest hospital.

The festival organisers told Telex that an ambulance car arrived in 10 minutes, providing professional help for the artist in trouble. They added that the artist felt better, and his group decided to hold their next performance despite the accident.

Interestingly, a similar accident happened two years ago at Sziget in the same circus tent. Then, the artist stood on a crane, which caught his leg, and he fell down.

Cirque du Sziget has 1,000 seats, hosting open-air and indoor shows.

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Shocking increase in anti-vaxxer parents in Hungary

number of anti-vaxxer parents increasing in Hungary (Copy)

Fatal childhood diseases may return if the number of anti-vaxxer parents continues to grow in Hungary. There is already an organisation providing legal and medical advice to these parents on how to sue doctors.

Anti-vaxxer doctors cannot be excluded anymore

According to the General Secretary of the Hungarian Paediatric Association, one in every five children died before compulsory vaccination for childhood diseases like pertussis and diphtheria. Even so, the number of anti-vaxxer parents is skyrocketing in Hungary, which may lead to future tragedies.

Based on the information from the Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK), parents are suing doctors over compulsory vaccination. They receive legal and medical assistance from anti-vaxxer doctors and lawyers. Péter Álmos, the president of MOK, mentioned that these doctors and lawyers coach parents on what to say to extract incriminating statements from the doctors. Mr Álmos added that the government has abolished compulsory MOK membership, preventing them from excluding anti-vaxxer doctors.

Hungary hospital doctor health anti-vaxxer parents
Photo: FB

Hungarian party behind anti-vaxxer parents?

Tamás Svéd, the General Secretary of the chamber, stated that some doctors are attempting to gain personal and political advantages by campaigning against vaccination. It has been reported multiple times that Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland), a right-wing radical party in Hungary, has also campaigned against compulsory COVID-19 vaccination.

This activity may have encouraged vaccine hesitancy. Magyar Nemzet, a government-aligned daily, reported that the party could be behind the increase in anti-vaxxer parents. The paper noted that the number of exemptions from compulsory childhood vaccinations rose to 96 in 2024, compared to only 19 in 2021.

Coronavirus Hungary anti-vaxxer parents
Waiting for the COVID-19 vaccination. https://www.facebook.com/koronavirus.gov.hu/photos

RTL Klub reported that the number of pertussis patients has increased over the last few years from 10 to 70. Experts believe that this is partly due to fewer people being vaccinated against it in neighbouring countries compared to Hungary.

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Horrific: 31 foreigners fall ill from cannabis gummies in Budapest

cannabis gummies bear

Over two dozen people had to be transported to a toxicology clinic in Budapest after they consumed cannabis gummies purchased at a local hemp store. The foreigners experienced near coma-like symptoms, with many of them needing days to recover. The police are investigating the event.

According to Blikk, a total of 31 non-nationals had to be hospitalised in Budapest in the past two weeks after consuming highly potent cannabis gummies. The foreigners visiting Budapest had bought the cannabionide-containing gummy candies in a CBD shop on Váci Street – a bag that contains five pieces of sweets and sells for HUF 15,000 (EUR 38.12). The product, as stated on the packaging, contains a substance called THCJD, which is a psychoactive cannabinoid similar to the more well-known THC.

Cannabis gummies induced nightmare: people in near coma from consuming THCJD

As THCJD is a relatively new strain of cannabinoid on the CBD market, scientific literature on its effects is virtually non-existent as of yet. Many say, however, that it has such a high potency that it mimics a strong psychedelic effect. Some claim that it is almost twenty times more intoxicating than THC. As there are a limited number of studies on the substance, verifying these claims is difficult, but nonetheless, the reported extreme potency of the substance puts consumers at an increased risk of intoxication and impairment.

This is probably what happened to the foreigners that had to be taken to the toxicology unit: according to Blikk, several of them were practically unconscious after consuming the cannabis gummies. A Jordanian couple, for example, was found unconscious in their Airbnb, lying on the floor in their own excrement, after missing for several days. They were not the only ones in such a predicament: others had been in a near coma-like state for days in the clinic.

“Totally out cold. They can neither speak nor move. It’s as if they were in a coma, lying there for days,”

a relative of one of the patients admitted told the newspaper. According to their information, the first patients exhibiting these symptoms arrived at the ward on Friday 21 June. Several of them were found to have cannabis gummies, and one person even had the bill for the candy with them. This is what led to the hemp shop on Váci Street.

Addictologist opinion: these drugs may be a cause of death

The relative who spoke to Blikk magazine said that while they did not know for sure momentarily, the patients did not seem to have suffered any permanent damage after consuming the cannabis gummies.

However, addiction specialist Dr. Sándor Funk stressed, “if something causes such a severe coma-like condition that lasts for days, then unfortunately there can be permanent damage, depending on what the drug has done to the brain. The destruction of nerve cells in the cortex causes symptoms similar to dementia (forgetfulness, dullness), but also vegetative problems.”

According to the expert, synthetic cannabinoids such as those in the cannabis gummies are particularly dangerous, both because they are extremely potent even in small quantities and because until they are officially identified and tested, the authorities cannot take adequate action to prevent their distribution and they circulate freely on the market.

“Until new substances are tested, until they are fine-tuned to know at exactly what dose they work, they can cause overdoses. They are very dangerous indeed, they can cause death,” Funk added.

The Budapest Police Headquarters reacted to the incident

In response to a request from Blikk, the Budapest Police Headquarters said that “an investigation has been opened against an unknown perpetrator on suspicion of incitement to the use of narcotics because in recent days several people – including minors – have been hospitalised after becoming ill after consuming gummy candy bought in a downtown CBD shop. Investigators have seized the shop’s entire stock of gummy candy and are subjecting them to forensic examination.”

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Serious gas explosion in Hungarian town, one person taken to hospital

gas explosion tapolca

A gas explosion occurred on Wednesday morning in an apartment in Tapolca, Hungary. One person was taken to hospital and the building was evacuated, the press spokesperson of the Veszprém County Emergency Management Directorate told the Hungarian News Agency (MTI).

Gas explosion in Tapolca

According to Veszprém County Emergency Management Directorate spokesperson Henrietta Csondor, the explosion occurred in an apartment in a ten-storey block of flats on Kazinczy Square, Tapolca. The gas explosion is believed to have occurred during the replacement of gas cylinders, knocking down several walls and tearing doors out of their places.

One person was taken to hospital and, in addition to the injured person, there was a dog in the apartment.

All the apartments in the building, 102 properties, were evacuated and the residents were temporarily housed in the neighbouring school.

A small fire was also started, a sofa was burning on about one square metre, but it was extinguished by neighbours before the firefighters arrived. The Tapolca municipal fire brigade and the fire brigades of Badacsonytomaj and Keszthely were called to the scene.

A rescue helicopter has also arrived on the scene. Experts are examining the structural condition of the building.

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Breaking: Serious accident in Hungarian battery factory, 8 people hospitalised

sk battery plant komárom

On Easter Sunday evening, several injured people were taken to hospital from the SK Battery battery factory in Komárom after hydrogen cyanide was released into the air.

Pungent smell in Komárom battery factory, 8 people hospitalised

sk battery battery plant komárom2
Photo: skonhungary.com/hu/

Several people were taken ill and 8 hospitalised at the battery factory in Komárom, Telex reports. A pungent smell spread and several workers complained of headaches on Sunday evening at SK’s battery factory in Komárom. Workers were evacuated from the factory. According to the emergency services, the firefighters who checked the site found no hazardous substances in the air of the factory that exceeded the limit values.

On Monday morning, several independent sources told Telex that there was a malfunction at the battery factory on Sunday evening.

The NGO Kiállunk Ácsért wrote to Telex: “People are being taken away from the factory by ambulances without sirens, police and emergency services have been deployed, and workers have been evacuated to the parking lot in front of the factory. The air around the factory smells pungent, irritating to the eyes and throat.”

Such incidents are becoming more and more frequent

SK Hungary Headquarters
Sk Innovation Headquarters, Komárom, photo: https://skonhungary.com/about-us/

In a statement sent to Index, opposition party LMP said that “such incidents are becoming more and more frequent around battery manufacturing and processing plants”. In the wake of the accident on Sunday night, the party reiterated its position that “the government’s efforts to build more factories in Hungary that work with hazardous materials is a mistake”.

The LMP is writing to the government to ask “what really happened” and to press charges against an unknown perpetrator to find out whose negligence caused the latest accident at the battery factory.

What is hydrogen cyanide?

Hydrogen cyanide is a colourless, readily evaporating liquid with a pungent, bitterish odour. The vapour that evaporates from this liquid, which is a weak acid, is highly toxic. Hydrogen cyanide is also flammable and explosive when mixed with oxygen.

LMP to file police report over accident at N Hungary battery plant

The opposition LMP-Greens is filing a report with the police over an accident at a battery manufacturing plant in Komarom, in northern Hungary.

Several workers were taken to the hospital on Sunday after hydrogen cyanide had been released into the air at the plant of SK Batteries, LMP said in a statement, citing local news reports.

The disaster management authority’s mobile lab has not shown harmful amounts of dangerous substances in the air, the statement said.

Noting previous incidents, LMP slammed the government’s aim to establish further plants working with dangerous materials in Hungary, insisting that accidents in battery manufacturing and dismantling plants were becoming more frequent.

The party will ask questions of the government in parliament and file a police report against perpetrators unknown, in an effort to uncover those responsible, the statement added.

It will also re-submit proposals to parliament to obligate battery plants to make their monitoring data public, “which [ruling] Fidesz has swept from the table so far”, the statement said.

LMP wished a speedy recovery to those wounded on Sunday.

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Emergency alert: Hospital debts skyrocket over EUR 250 million in Hungary

Hospital healthcare health

Hospital debts soared past HUF 100 billion (EUR 251,667,000) by the end of February in Hungary, leading to a temporary closure of hospital wards according to medical equipment suppliers who spoke at a joint press conference on Thursday.

The three prominent professional organisations: the Association of Healthcare and Technology and Medical Technology Suppliers, the Hungarian Manufacturers and Service Providers Accredited Innovation Cluster, and the Medical Technology Association are urging the government to address the overdue debts of hospitals swiftly. According to Telex, they emphasise the critical need for prompt coverage and full settlement of these debts to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.

The concerns raised by the organisations

Hospital healthcare health
Photo: DNH

László Rásky, Secretary General of the Medical Technology Association, noted that by the end of last year, the government had settled HUF 90 billion (EUR 225 million) out of the HUF 130 billion (EUR 325.2 million) debt of the health sector. However, in January, the hospitals’ debt surged back up to over HUF 83 Billion (EUR 207.6 million).

László also stated that professional organisations representing medical technology suppliers will approach the State Audit Office of Hungary. This decision comes after suppliers’ experiences showed that many institutions fail to settle the late payment interest that companies officially notify them of.

On Thursday, the foremost representative organisations of Hungary’s medical technology sector once again raised concerns about hospital’s debts during a joint press conference. During the press briefing, László Rásky stated the following:

It is a decades-old problem, which we have already told you all about.

Hospital wards closing due to debt

Hospital
Photo: facebook.com/koronavirus.gov.hu

The professional organisations expressed concern that despite recent efforts to consolidate, the situation has deteriorated. Suppliers are struggling to sustain themselves without regular income and are even facing job cuts.

Tamás Rádai, director of the Association of Healthcare Technology and Medical Technology Suppliers, highlighted that hospital debts are affecting the healthcare sector, leading to temporary closures of departments and disruptions in equipment supply which is accountable for 10 to 15% of suspensions.

The director also criticised the state’s requirement for suppliers to pay VAT upfront which creates an uncertainty about when they will receive payment for their goods.

What about the government?

state secretary for healthcare péter takács
State Secretary for Healthcare Péter Takács. MTI/Balogh Zoltán

State Secretary for Healthcare Péter Takács pledged in early February to continue the consolidation process initiated in November, which would involve allocating additional funds to clear hospital debts. László Rásky stated the following in the press conference about this situation:

To date, the March consolidation has not taken place and we have not received a reply from the Ministry of Interior to our repeated requests.

However, experts revealed during the recent briefing for medical sector representatives that a month after the announcement, there was no update regarding the March bailout for hospitals. This lack of progress has raised concerns about the challenging situation faced by companies supplying medical equipment, according to 24.hu.

Read also:

  • Hungarian police’s decision about the allegedly overpriced Chinese ventilators bought by Orbán – HERE
  • Grim survey results: Hungary least happy country in the region – HERE

 

PHOTOS: Singaporean national rescued in Budapest from 300 meters deep

Singaporean national rescued in Budapest from 300 meters deep

A Singaporean national got into trouble in the Mátyás Cave in Budapest. He was 300 metres deep, so 27 rescue professionals and doctors went after him and managed to get him out.

According to RTL Klub, the Singaporean national was in his twenties. Rescue experts had to be very cautious since they not only had to climb and hold themselves surrounded by the narrow walls of the cave, but they also had to take out the man lying consciously on a stretcher.

The Singaporean national’s ankle got injured during an organised climb 300 metres deep in the cave. The man took a wrong step on a slippery rock while an international group he was a member of was discovering the cave.

The rescue team took him up from the so-called Earth Room of the cave.

Singaporean national rescued in Budapest from 300 meters deep
Photo: MTI

The team was numerous because the cave was narrow, and they had to carry the stretcher in hand, even in the narrowest parts.

The rescue lasted 1.5 hours. The Singaporean man did not lose consciousness during the entire operation. The ambulance took him to the Budapest Honvédkórház (Military Hospital Medical Centre).

Here are two more photos of the rescue operation. Congratulations to the Hungarian team!

Read also:

  • The mysterious cave system underneath the Buda Castle – Read more HERE
  • The top five most beautiful caves in Hungary – Details in THIS article

Patience advised: extremely long waiting times in Hungarian healthcare sector

Hospital

According to data shown on the National Hospital Directorate’s list, the number of those who are waiting for surgery exceeds 26,000. That’s only those who were waiting for more than 60 days.

The website’s list has twenty different treatments listed, and waiting time for half of these exceeds a hundred days. For five medical interventions, the national average waiting time manages to exceed two hundred days (as of the latest Saturday data).

Traumatic statistics

The most populated waiting line on the list is the one for knee surgery. This list winds up at the dizzying number of 11,300. Remember, these numbers only represent those who are already waited out their share of two months. Even so, out of this large group of people, 9,837 are in orthopedic care and 1,463 in traumatology.

The waiting time for these two categories is counted separately. In the former, the average waiting time, based on the last six months nationwide, is 263 days. This means that if a patient was added to the waiting list yesterday, on January 6th, for example, they can expect surgery around the end of September.

However, these numbers vary from region to region. If they subscribed to the list in the Western region of the country (which means Győr-Moson-Sopron, Vas, and Zala counties), the average waiting time already jumps up to a steep 430 days. That is, if a patient was added to the waiting list now, their expected knee replacement would be around March 10, 2025.

However, if the knee surgery is logged as being in traumatology, the process is much faster: 229 days nationally and only 407 days in the Western region.

The two ends

Based on the currently available lists and their calculated average waiting times from the last 6 months, the longest waiting time is for those who wish to undergo corneal surgery. According to the National Hospital Directorate’s data, this kind of interventions are only carried out at the Semmelweis University Clinical Center, marking the record average waiting time of 482 days. Meaning that patients who are added to the waiting list now may be scheduled for surgery in May 2025. There are currently around 350 people waiting for more than 60 days for a corneal surgery.

Overall, for the twenty conditions listed on the website, the average waiting time is about 130 days. Nose sinus surgery plays a significant role in the average waiting time. This, it seems, is a line that proceeds extremely fast. Here, no one waits more than sixty days, and on average, they are scheduled within 12 days. Without the nose sinus surgery, the national average waiting time would be over 140 days, approximately four and a half months.

How much longer?

The National Hospital Directorate’s website keeps track of waiting lists. Here, a total of 20 different treatments are listed, which at first may sound like a lot, but it’s not. Last year on the same website, there were 47 different interventions with their waiting lists published. The National Hospital Directorate did not comment on the decrease of the listed surgeries, writes 444.

This is one of the tricks used by the government to reduce the numbers on the waiting lists to make the situation seem lighter. Another well-used one is the way of them only listing those who were waiting for a brief two months, and showing them in the data only after this period.

This means the situation may be even worse than it seems now. The national waiting list for surgeries already equals that of a smaller Hungarian town like Jászberény. How much longer could the actual waiting list be?

As we wrote earlier, gratuity payments are still present in the Hungarian healthcare system, details HERE.

Also, we wrote before about Hungarian hospitals struggling with high debt, details HERE.

Hungarian hospitals struggling with high debt

Hospital

Several hospitals have accumulated debt exceeding 3 billion forints (EUR 8.1m), an opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) lawmaker and the health expert of the party’s shadow government said on Sunday.

Zoltán Komáromi told an online press conference on Facebook that “in addition to a dramatic shortage of professional staff and hospital infections”, the debt in many hospitals has reached record highs.

Total debt was over 108 billion forints by the end of September, he said, accusing the government of threatening the lives of Hungarians by allowing hospital debt to soar.

He cited data available from the State Treasury showing that Szent Janos Hospital in Budapest and the hospital of Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg County both accumulated debts exceeding 3 billion forints, and the hospital of Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen County had an even greater debt of 5 billion forints.

A shortage in hospital stocks will result in even longer waiting lists, he added.

Komáromi said the government’s aim was to guide people towards “private health care which profits a billionaire elite”.

Read also:

  • Hungarian hospitals in sky-high debt: serious medicine shortage may come – Read more HERE
  • Brutal increase in the number of abortions in Hungary – Details in THIS article