Updates on Hungary’s 112 emergency call system
The Hungarian government is planning to renew the 112 emergency call system in Hungary, making huge investments over several years. How will these changes really affect the residents of Hungary?
Upgrades to the 112 emergency call system
According to HelloVidék, the Hungarian government recently declared its intention to renew the 112 emergency call system. This renewal will unfold over a number of years in stages, requiring a substantial investment of about HUF 12 billion (approx. EUR 31 million).
The reliable operation of the so called ESR-112 system is vital for safeguarding lives and property, maintaining public safety and preventing disasters. The government emphasises the necessity of ensuring the system’s reliability, independence from external interests and continuous improvement. This commitment is detailed in the explanatory memorandum published in the Hungarian Gazette.
Improvements and responsiveness
Hungary’s 112 emergency call system started operating in 2015. At the time, half as much funding was available compared to the current renewal efforts. The test phase began in 2013, gradually evolving until the national 112 system became fully operational on the 1st of January 2015.
The 112 emergency call system has consistently improved since its introduction. It handles a substantial volume of calls daily, contributing to the nation’s safety and security. Importantly, it now encompasses various communication channels, including SMS, mobile applications and the E-Call system. These improvements further contribute to the reason why Hungary received an international award for its ambulance service.
What should residents keep in mind?
Foreigners do not have to worry about language barriers because the emergency number 112 is available 24 hours a day in Hungarian, English and German. The calls are answered by the Call Reception Centres in Szombathely and Miskolc, then forwarded to the emergency services.
It is vital for all residents, including foreigners, to use the 112 emergency system responsibly and understand changes to medical care services. Misuse can lead to fines, and an overloaded system poses risks to lives in genuine emergencies. Key recommendations include using the emergency number only for genuine emergencies, providing clear information and remaining on the line until instructed to hang up.
Changes in on-call medical telephone numbers
Additionally, Hungary is making changes to on-call medical telephone numbers. In some parts of the country, a new system has been introduced in the beginning of the year where you can call 1830 for medical care after 4 pm. This system functions similarly to the previous 104 number, directing you to the appropriate care. By the end of February 2024, this system should cover the entire country, excluding Budapest, which has a unique healthcare system.
In conclusion, the system of emergency telephone numbers is changing in Hungary, but the 112 number still works independently. If you want to read more about the Hungarian healthcare system, check out another article HERE.
Shocking ranking: Hungary is one of the poorest European countries?
The Eurostat regional yearbook has published statistics based on the regional division of EU countries. As far as results go, based on five indicators, Hungary scored fourth place on the list of the poorest European countries. When examining statistics in healthcare, education, the labour market, living conditions and the economy, different regions of Hungary were compared, but the country as a whole was also juxtaposed with other EU countries.
Healthcare statistics
According to Qubit, the first indicator, healthcare, reveals that Budapest, with a 4.6% satisfaction rate, seems to rank the lowest regionally in terms of satisfaction with access to proper healthcare. In contrast, the Southern Great Plain (Szeged region), Southern Transdanubian region (Pécs region) and the Central Transdanubian region (Székesfevérvár region) perform the best. In Central Hungary, which ranks second-worst for healthcare availability, dissatisfaction rates in 2022 have risen compared to 2018, increasing from 1.3% to 3.1%. This dissatisfaction percentage is 4.6% in Budapest, compared to 0.6% in the Southern Great Plain region, which matches the standards of Austria or Luxembourg. It is important to note that the idea of receiving sufficient healthcare does not necessarily refer to its quality.
Regarding the number of doctors per 100,000 residents, the results are grim. While the overall parameter decreased by 1% in the EU, the northern region of Hungary experienced a 10% drop between 2019 and 2020.
Education figures
In the realm of education, Eurostat found that in Hungary, the number of high school students participating in practical education has hiked, especially in the highly industrialised region of Western Transdanubia (Győr region). The results also place all eight Hungarian regions in the top 10 list of regions with the fastest-growing number of students receiving practical education. Among individuals aged 25-34 who received a diploma in 2022, Northern Hungary ranks last, while Budapest tops the list with an encouraging 55% placing the city among the top 10 in Europe.
Employment data
Labour market data reveals low unemployment rates but high employment rates, with a low number of workers in high-value-added sectors. Regionally, Budapest and Pest county perform the best, but when comparing the number of men versus women aged 20-64 who are active in the workforce, men are present in higher numbers in all regions.
Are we really one of the poorest European countries?
The indicator that ultimately placed Hungary in fourth place when measuring poverty is living conditions. Material deprivation is assessed by considering whether at least seven out of the thirteen listed items are missing. These items include being able to afford a one-week vacation annually, covering unexpected expenses, replacing used furniture, eating out once a month with friends or family, having an adequate diet, owning a car without financial strain, replacing worn clothing, setting aside money for personal expenses weekly, having no housing debt, having proper heating, having personal internet access and owning at least two pairs of shoes suitable for every season. Based on regional data, Western Transdanubia ranks highest, with only 8.7% of the population qualifying as living in poverty, while Northern Hungary ranks last at 30%. Among EU countries, only Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece rank lower than Hungary in terms of poverty.
Lastly, from an economic standpoint, although Hungary has somewhat caught up to European GDP standards, income is still considered low. The lowest annual income per person in Hungary is 6,200 euros, registered in Northern Hungary, while Budapest has the highest average income, at 12,700 euros per person.
Author: Szabina Szőke
Depressing report: Hungary mortality rate second highest globally
Noncommunicable diseases kill around 41 million people a year across the globe and more than 15 million of those deaths affect people below the age of 70, with the biggest culprits being cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The experts at William Russell analysed countries on the number of deaths from diseases such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, liver disease, kidney disease and stroke per 100,000 of the population, to reveal the countries with the highest mortality rates in the world.
The countries with the highest mortality rates in the world:
|
Rank |
Country |
All Cancers |
Coronary Heart Disease |
Stroke |
Lung Disease |
Liver Disease |
Kidney Disease |
Mortality score |
|
1 |
Turkey |
138.22 |
95.94 |
49.06 |
28.02 |
7.14 |
19.06 |
8.34 |
|
2 |
Hungary |
162.44 |
155.07 |
50.69 |
30.26 |
19.03 |
3.88 |
8.29 |
|
3 |
Slovak Republic |
157.25 |
99.61 |
35.90 |
10.88 |
17.16 |
8.06 |
7.57 |
|
4 |
Mexico |
71.07 |
92.41 |
32.08 |
23.06 |
24.62 |
36.72 |
7.39 |
|
5 |
Poland |
147.81 |
125.44 |
37.09 |
15.56 |
14.35 |
4.69 |
7.25 |
|
6 |
Latvia |
144.34 |
146.65 |
99.14 |
7.50 |
13.03 |
6.43 |
7.21 |
|
6 |
Czech Republic |
128.77 |
118.91 |
30.06 |
16.76 |
12.83 |
6.53 |
7.21 |
|
8 |
Lithuania |
141.51 |
174.70 |
65.24 |
6.95 |
16.33 |
4.85 |
6.76 |
|
9 |
United States |
102.55 |
73.49 |
22.27 |
28.49 |
8.98 |
13.08 |
6.62 |
|
10 |
Greece |
118.37 |
63.02 |
35.72 |
13.43 |
3.87 |
12.11 |
5.90 |
The country with the highest mortality score from life-threatening illnesses is Turkey, with an overall score of 8.34. Turkey also places in the top five for strokes and lung disease, with 49.06 and 28.02 deaths per 100,000 respectively.
Hungary in 2nd place globally
Hungary takes second place with an overall mortality score of 8.29. The country has the highest cancer mortality rate in the index with 162.44 deaths per 100,000, the highest rate of lung disease deaths with 30.26 per 100,000, and places second for deaths from both strokes and liver disease.
Completing the top three is Slovak Republic with a mortality score of 7.57. The country placed in the top 10 for five of the six factors William Russell looked at, scoring particularly highly when it comes to cancer deaths with 157.25 per 100,000 people, the second highest rate for the factor.
The highest cancer mortality rate: Hungary
The central European nation of Hungary takes the top spot for its cancer mortality rate. Hungarians have a relatively high rate of obesity and being overweight, a big risk factor when it comes to cancer, with 60% of its population falling into this category in 2019. Coupled with a shortage of cancer care specialists relative to other EU countries, Hungary has 162.44 cancer deaths per 100,000 people.
Cancer is the most common cause of mortality globally, with an average of 114.09 deaths per 100,000 people caused by the disease.
The highest lung disease mortality rate: Hungary
Hungary takes the unfortunate title of having the highest lung disease mortality rate in the OECD with 30.26 deaths from the disease per 100,000 people. Smoking, both active and passive, is one of the biggest risk factors in contracting lung disease, and as more than 30% of Hungary’s population are smokers, it’s no wonder the country has the highest mortality rate from this disease.
Methodology
Beginning with a list of OECD countries and US States, William Russell analysed each one on the number of deaths per 100,000 of the population (the age-standardised total number of deaths from each disease divided by the total population and multiplied by 100,000) from cancers, coronary heart disease, stroke, lung disease, liver disease, and kidney disease in 2020 according to World Life Expectancy.
To find the mortality score out of 10, experts ranked each country on those mortality rates per 100,000 people, giving them a normalised score. They then took an average score across every factor to reach the final mortality score.
To find the developed world’s deadliest noncommunicable diseases, an average was calculated using data from each OECD country.
Read also:
Hungarian radicals slam WHO’s pandemic accord, want Orbán to reject it
Opposition party Mi Hazánk is collecting signatures in support of its campaign against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) planned pandemic accord.
The party is combining the signature drive with an information campaign, Dóra Dúró, the radical party’s deputy leader, told a press conference on Friday, adding that the accord “brutally curbs” personal freedoms and national sovereignty.
She said it was intolerable that “a globalist organisation serving foreign interests” wanted to override the powers of the sovereign Hungarian state, and Mi Hazánk demanded that the Hungarian government protest against the accord.
Read also:
- Radical Hungarian party offers bounty for wanted Vietnamese guest worker
Surprising result: Hungary in top 10 in a health list
Hospital waiting times, healthcare fees and ambulance costs have recently become a sensitive issue worldwide. But some countries are working faster than others. Hungary is in a surprisingly good position on the list.
For example, Australia has the seventh worst waiting times for doctors and specialists, according to a survey by the US organisation NiceRx. Ireland has the fastest average ambulance response time in Europe, according to a Statista survey.
Because of the many different statistics and surveys, it can be difficult to know how the health system in each country compares with the others. So the health insurance experts at Compare the Market decided to dig a little deeper.
By analysing eight separate factors, including the number of hospital beds, doctors and nurses, and average waiting times for surgery, 34 countries were ranked according to where the waiting times are shortest (and longest). Europe performs very well, with 6 of the top 10 countries in the Old Continent.
Countries with the shortest waiting times for surgery:
1. Sweden
Sweden regularly ranks first for happiness, childcare and well-being, and is no exception when it comes to waiting times for surgery. Not only does the country have the highest number of doctors and nurses per 10,000 inhabitants, but the average waiting time for surgery is 50 days, the third lowest in the world behind Italy and Hungary (!).
Although not all countries record social media opinions on this, Sweden is the second most positive country, with 40 percent of the population having a good opinion of medical care.
2. Switzerland
Switzerland comes second, with the third highest number of nurses per 10,000 inhabitants, meaning that people already in hospital are more likely to receive more time and care than in other countries with fewer staff.
Not only that, but a survey of waiting times for tests found that the Swiss were the least happy, with just 34 percent saying they had been kept waiting. Moreover, the satisfaction of the population is the fourth highest when it comes to medical treatment, with a Numbeo score of 72.04.
3. Japan
With more hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants than any other country in the world – 129.8 – Japan has the third fastest growing healthcare system. Japan offers universal healthcare, which is relatively cheap. It pays 30 percent of total medical bills and people are largely satisfied with it. The level of satisfaction with Japanese healthcare is the third highest according to Numbeo.
Hungary is 6th
Hungary is 6th on the overall list. Hungary also scores well in Average waiting time for surgical treatment and social media positive sentiment. But it is in the lead in the hospital beds per 10,000 category, scoring 4.06 overall.
Peru is at the other end of the list. There are not enough doctors, hospital beds and nurses. They are followed by Colombia, where the lack of nurses is also a problem. Third on the imaginary podium is Chile, where the highest proportion of people have negative opinions. Available data show a staggering 221.3 days waiting time for surgery.
Bizarre case in Hungarian hospital: chief doctors dismissed
Irregularities have occurred in the pathology department of the Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital – Outpatient Clinic in Budapest. For this reason, the acting head of the health institution terminated the employment of the hospital’s autopsy master and autopsy assistant.
According to a statement by the National Directorate General for Hospitals, two bodies were found in the pathology department of the institution in undignified conditions and not recorded in the register of deaths. As a consequence, the acting head of the Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital – Outpatient Clinic in Budapest terminated the employment of the hospital’s autopsy master and autopsy assistant on 31 August 2023, napi.hu reports.
The directorate also added that the head of the institution, Zoltán Kökény, has ordered an internal investigation and filed a police report in order to fully clarify the circumstances of the professional irregularity. The Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital and the National Directorate General for Hospitals will not provide any further information on the case until the professional investigation is completed, they added.
Read also:
Hungary’s ambulance service got international award
Hungary’s National Ambulance Service has been recognised with the Diamond Status Angels Award for its excellence in stroke care around the country.
The ambulance service received diamond status rating for its stroke care in all seven of Hungary’s regions from the European Stroke Organisation based on the organisation’s analysis of in-ambulance care data for some 30,000 stroke cases, the service said in a statement on Sunday.
The Hungarian ambulance service was the only one out of 152 countries assessed to receive a diamond rating for the entire country, they said. The assessments by the European Stroke Organisation and the Angels Initiative, which bestow the Angels Awards, covered the effectiveness and quality of stroke care, on-site care for suspected stroke patients as well as the organisation of their hospital transport.
Read also:
- National Ambulance Service admits: it cannot guarantee rescue in Budapest – Read more HERE
- Terrifying VIDEO: Ambulance crashes into garden of a Budapest family house
A little boy died in a horrific accident in Hungary – UPDATED
A van capsized in Csongrád-Csanád County near Ásotthalom on the main road 55. The driver was a Russian citizen who forced 19 illegal migrants into the cargo hold, including three children. All illegal passengers suffered injuries, but a Syrian boy lost his life.
According to 444.hu, ten ambulance cars from two counties rushed to help the casualties. Six people suffered severe, while 12 minor injuries, including two other kids.
Prosecutors bring charges against people smuggler who caused fatal accident
Prosecutors have brought charges against a Moldovan man on suspicion of people smuggling and causing a fatal accident after he crashed his minibus into a ditch at Ásotthalom at dawn on Thursday. After midnight, the man picked up 19 illegal migrants claiming to be Syrian citizens with the intent of transporting them to Austria on the instructions of a client, Csongrád-Csanád County prosecutors said in a statement.
When police carried out a spot check on the outskirts of Ásotthalom, the suspect drove away at high speed and lost control of the car while taking a corner, crashing into a drainage ditch. One of the passengers died at the scene, while four suffered serious injuries. Fourteen sustained minor injuries. The suspect fled into the forest, and after a search of several hours, police took him into custody.
Hungary protecting Europe by helping Sahel
Europe would face ruin if migration from Africa’s Sahel region took off, a government official said in a newspaper interview. Referring to the unstable situation in Niger, Eduard László Mathé, the ministerial commissioner for government policy in sub-Sahara, told the weekly Mandiner that problems must be handled locally rather than giving in to “endless African migration”. The Hungarian government had been the first in Europe to recognise this.
Read about the only Hungarian national who escaped from Niger HERE.
The Sahel, Mathé added, served as the security frontier of Europe. Potentially, tens of millions of African migrants may head to Europe now. During its presidency of the European Union in 2024, Hungary will consistently stress the issues associated with the countries of the Sahel. This African region is inhabited by a mixed population of 90 million, consisting of both nomadic people and settlers. Countries with growing populations, the ministerial commissioner added, were highly vulnerable to climate change and food poverty.
Not long ago, a government delegation visited Chad and examined the possible outcomes of the worsening refugee crisis on the Chad-Sudan border, including a humanitarian crisis due to the Sudanese civil war. Mathé said that the problems Africa is facing at the moment could soon become the problems of the EU. Hungary, the state secretary added, has started to build strong relations with Niger and Chad, and it offered humanitarian relief in the hope of stabilising the region’s economies with a further view to protecting Europe. Mathé said Hungary, with its long-standing attention to the dangers inherent in North Africa, had been among the first to react to the coup in Niger, and its Western partners appreciated its engagement.
Over one million Hungarian without GPs?
Over one million people live in areas in which general practitioners’ positions are currently vacant, a deputy of the opposition Democratic Coalition said on Friday, blaming the government’s “ill-advised measures” for the situation.
Zoltán Komáromi, who is the opposition party’s shadow health minister, insisted that despite repeated warnings by the medical profession, “each measure of the Orbán government does more damage than good”, adding that GPs’ positions in small villages were being left vacant in increasing numbers, which “threatens a situation in which patients cannot receive emergency services, chronic patients will not be treated in a timely manner and screening programmes will be delayed.”
Rather than facilitating an immediate pay rise for health personnel, the government “implements various changes just to make a disastrous health situation even worse”, he said.
Komáromi insisted that 12 percent of GP’s practices, nearly 25 percent of those in villages, were not permanently filled. He said doctors from other practices were “filling in”, which meant that “if somebody gets ill on the wrong day, they will have to seek help elsewhere”.
Shortage of GPs alarming: DK said almost exactly one year ago. HERE is our article.
Nationalisation of private CT and MRI scans in Hungary irresponsible, Socialists say
The government’s decision to nationalise private CT and MRI scans is “irresponsible and inconsiderate”, will increase waiting-lists and endanger the chance of patients’ recovery, the deputy group leader of the opposition Socialists said on Monday.
Under an amendment to the 2024 budget passed on Friday by parliament, CT and MRI scans financed from state health-insurance can only be carried out in state-run health-care institutions as of 1 November next year, Zita Gurmai told a press conference streamed online.
Under the current system, some 30 percent of CT and MRI scans are carried out by private clinics or privately-owned scanners operated in state-run hospitals or clinics, she said. The service providers are also tasked with the evaluation of the scans and are getting reimbursed from the state health-insurance fund, said Gurmai.
She cited the reaction of the Hungarian Medical Chamber (Magyar Orvosi Kamar, MOK) saying the decision could further deteriorate the acute shortage of professionals in diagnostics and outpatient care, increase waiting lists and force an increasing number of patients into the private health-care sector. This all can endanger patients’ recovery, she said.
MOK on Friday said it was “dangerous” that the amendment was approved “embedded in the 2024 budget act” without preliminary consultation with the industry and the public and without a parliamentary debate.
Majority of Hungarians say hospitals are in a catastrophic state, government says all is well
The Pulzus Media Research poll, conducted by 24.hu, shows a devastating picture of what people think about hospitals.
According to this survey:
- 37 percent of people think that patients are treated in unworthy conditions in most hospitals, while another 15 percent believe that the conditions in most hospitals are disastrous, both in terms of the hospital building and its technical equipment.
- 74 percent are dissatisfied with the cleanliness of hospitals, 54 percent say that bathrooms and toilets are dirty and worn, with no toilet seats or paper, soap or hand towels. 32 and 25 percent respectively said that common hospital rooms were not cleaned properly. 14 percent had encountered insects (cockroaches, spiders, bloodsuckers) during their hospital stay.
- 88 per cent are dissatisfied with the hygiene of hospitals. 50 percent know or have heard of someone who has contracted an infection in hospital.
- 56% are either very (41%) or very (15%) afraid that either they or a relative cared for in hospital will get an infection.
- 91 per cent see a clear link between the professional quality of patient care and hospital conditions, i.e. that hygiene deficiencies and the resulting hospital-acquired infections can endanger the health and lives of patients.
- 69% of them think that hospitals should receive more money to improve the operation and maintenance of hospital buildings.
The government says all is well
The government is committed to improving Hungary’s healthcare system, Bence Rétvári, interior ministry parliamentary state secretary, said on Monday, noting that next year the health budget will be boosted by 425 billion forints (EUR 1.13bn) compared with last year.
Healthcare spending has grown from 1,100 billion forints to 3,200 billion in the past decade, Rétvári said at an awards ceremony held marking Semmelweis Day, adding that the number of doctors had also risen appreciably, with 1,000-1,500 graduating from medical universities each year, 1.5 times more than ten years ago.
While in 2010, there were close to 34,000 doctors, this has risen to more than 40,000, while those applying to work abroad has fallen to one-third, he said.
Retvari noted the positive effects on the ban on so-called gratuity payments to doctors which had distorted the health-care system for around 70 years, adding that at the end of last year only 1 percent of Hungarians saw gratuity as a problem.
Hungarian healthcare workers to get a long-awaited pay rise in July, details HERE.
Crucial medicine at risk of running out in Hungary
Hungary is on the brink of a healthcare crisis as an essential medicine, insulin, is at risk of running out. In a letter addressed to Hungarian General Practitioners (GPs), the State Secretary for Health, Dr. Péter Takács, warned that disruptions in insulin supply are likely to occur starting in July.
The letter was later shared on social media by pharmacist Dr Szabolcs Dobson. It advises doctors to proactively communicate with nearby pharmacies to determine the availability of specific medications. Furthermore, it proposes that GPs seek suitable alternatives for their patients, writes Pénzcentrum.
Huge shortage
Manufacturing problems and market considerations are believed to be the primary factors contributing to this alarming situation.
Dated 26 June, Dr Takács’ letter explicitly states:
“From 1 July 2023, the availability of certain human insulin products will change. Considering that the recommendations provided by specialists are applicable to all human insulin products, regardless of the specific product mentioned in the recommendation, I urge you to contact your nearest pharmacy to inquire about the availability of human insulin products before prescribing a specific medicine. A new specialist recommendation is not required, and any available insulin product from any manufacturer can be prescribed based on the current recommendation.”
Dr. Takács further emphasises that a new specialist recommendation is unnecessary. Doctors can prescribe any insulin medicine product currently available, regardless of the manufacturer.
Manufacturing problems
The National Institute of Pharmacy and Food Safety (OGYÉI) has identified three human insulin preparations, marketed by Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, facing shortages. These insulin products, which come in pre-filled injection pens of 5×3 ml, include Insuman Basal SoloStar 100 IU/ml, Basal SoloStar, Comb 25 SoloStar and Rapid Solostar.
Manufacturing issues have resulted in a shortage of Insuman Basal SoloStar 100 IU/ml. At the same time, market considerations have also contributed to the unavailability of Basal SoloStar, Comb 25 SoloStar and Rapid Solostar in pharmacies.
The potential shortage of insulin poses a severe risk to the well-being of patients who depend on these life-sustaining treatments. Insulin plays a vital role in managing diabetes, and any disruption in its supply can have dire consequences for individuals with the condition.
Did you know that the “savior of mothers” is Hungarian?
Hungary is thankful to and proud of its health-care workers, Bence Rétvári, a state secretary of the interior ministry, said on Friday, marking the upcoming Semmelweis Day, the day of national health care.
Doctors have seen a significant increase in their wages, allowing the elimination of gratuity payments, Rétvári told a Semmelweis Day event at the Jávorszky Ödön Hospital in Vác, on the outskirts of Budapest, adding that nurses were also set to receive a pay hike, MTI wrote.
In spite of the difficulties, the 2024 draft budget set to be passed by parliament next week allocates more funding towards health care than this year’s budget, Rétvári said. Observed on July 1, Semmelweis Day is named after Ignaz Semmelweis, a 19th-century Hungarian physician now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures, who was often described as the “savior of mothers”.
Chinese women help in the Hungarian health sector
A cooperation agreement signed by the Professional Association of Hungarian District Nurses (MVSZSZ) and the Chinese Women’s Association of Hungary serves to further deepen friendship between the two nations, a government official said at the signing ceremony on Wednesday.
Ágnes Hornung, state secretary for family affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, said people generally notice the differences between countries, but the hidden potential in different worldviews arising from such differences is found in “the wealth of knowledge and experience from which we can learn by learning from each other”.
MVSZSZ head Marianna Várfalvi said the agreement was directed at supporting Chinese families living in Hungary in getting a healthy start to life for their babies, protecting their physical and mental health, and ensuring good access to health care, while harmonising the knowledge of the two cultures in health matters through cooperation and joint programmes.
Bleeding Hungarian patient dies after waiting an hour for an ambulance
A family in Budaörs, Hungary waited for almost an hour for an ambulance to come to their bleeding family member. By the time they arrived, the woman had lost so much blood that she died in the response unit. According to the ambulance service, they were not at fault.
According to the Budaörs family, the doctor on duty, who was trying to keep the woman alive, called the ambulance three times, RTL Híradó reports. The family filed a lawsuit against the National Ambulance Service (Országos Mentőszolgálat, OMSZ). The OMSZ responded to the lawyer’s request by saying that the doctor on duty had not properly indicated the extent of the problem.
The emergency was not treated properly
Kata Draxler lost her mother last November. One day, she noticed that her mother was bleeding heavily. She immediately called the medical emergency room on her street and they soon arrived at the house in Budaörs. “When the doctor on duty came out, he was confronted with the seriousness of my mother’s condition and he saw fit to call the emergency cervices immediately, obviously after he had stabilised my mother’s condition,” Kata recalls.
The ambulance did not come for long minutes. Meanwhile, the doctor on duty, Kata said, had treated her mother professionally. The ambulance was called again half an hour later, and then again about 10 minutes later. Meanwhile, Kata’s mother was losing more and more blood.
“The wait from the first call was over an hour, which cost my mother her life,” Kata said. They were able to get her into the ambulance, but she did not survive the trip to the hospital.
Ambulance service: we are not at fault
The family has filed a lawsuit against the National Ambulance Service to prevent what happened to them from happening to anyone else. The OMSZ replied to the family’s lawyer that they were not at fault. “We received a bitter response and they want to put all the blame on those who were here and helped keep my mother alive,” Kata said.
According to the OMSZ, as they had not been properly informed of the patient’s condition by the doctor on duty who informed them, the ambulance dispatcher decided to wait for the ambulance unit to be released “with a reasonable delay”, RTL Híradó writes.
According to their response, the call was made at 1:06 PM and they arrived 52 minutes later. They do not believe there was an undue delay.
The OMSZ cannot guarantee rescue in Budapest
As we wrote earlier this month, the National Ambulance Service admitted that it cannot fully guarantee rescue in the Hungarian capital. According to the Association of Hungarian Ambulance Workers, there are not enough professionals. There are more and more emergency cases where it later turns out that the ambulance did not even set off. Until this pressing problem is solved, unfortunately, cases like this will most likely be frequent.
Last COVID restriction to be ends in Hungary from 1 May
The mandatory wearing of masks in Hungary will no longer apply from May 1 in view of the country’s benign epidemiological situation, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) announced on Friday.
From Monday, neither employees of health and social-care institutions nor visitors will have to wear masks in these settings. Hospital heads will still have the authority to mandate the use of masks in hospitals or certain departments within the hospital.
Nurses could get a big pay rise in Hungary
The interior ministry has proposed a general 18 percent pay rise to nurses starting in July, according to a statement sent to MTI on Wednesday.
The ministry said health-care staff in non-medical areas would be included in the programme.
The ministry will submit its draft decree for consultations with professionals and social groups, the statement said, adding that the government’s decision on the matter was expected to be made in May.
“Despite extraordinary expenses caused by the war [in Ukraine] the government has set aside 50 billion forints (HUF 133.6m) to cover the pay hike scheme in health care, the statement said, adding that a further increase was planned for March next year.
According to the proposal, the pay hike will cover a staff of 84,000 employees.
Brutal photo: a little girl’s hand caught in a meat grinder in Hungary
The Heim Paul Hungarian Children’s Hospital has published a horrifying photo on social media. The picture depicts a two-year-old girl with her hand stuck in a meat grinder.
Brutal photo
“Yes, unfortunately, everyone can see …. those fingers belong to a 2-year-old girl,” Heim Pál Children’s Hospital, Hungary’s largest children’s hospital, wrote on its Facebook page. The photo shows a child with a hand stuck in a meat grinder taken to the hospital.
The child had reached into the grinder and its pulley had pulled the little girl’s hand in and her fingers were almost up to the blades, rtl.hu reports.
According to the hospital, “the child was brought to our Surgery Department along with the electric meat grinder, where our hand surgeons, Dr. Gabriella Wéber and Dr. István Füle, operated on the child’s bone, nerve and tendon injuries in a bloodless state.” Heim Paul mentions that the surgery was successful, the circulation of the damaged tissues was restored, no signs of infection were detected, and the child’s hand will be restored to full function.
Word of caution
Dr. Anikó Nagy, Chief Medical Director, was grateful to the doctors and nurses of the hospital who work tirelessly to do what they do best: provide the highest quality of care for children.
The Heim Pál National Institute of Paediatrics performs nearly 2 million procedures a year. This makes it one of the largest independent children’s hospitals in Europe. The hospital aims to treat patients with the highest possible level of professionalism in all areas of paediatrics. Each year, they receive nearly 35,000 inpatients and one and a half million children and adolescents treated as outpatients.
The police station of Nagykőrös started proceedings against a 55-year-old woman for endangering a minor in connection with the case. According to information from the Pest Vármegyei headquarters, the person is the grandmother of the little girl.
The girl was taken by ambulance to Heim Pál Hospital. The hospital concludes its post with the words “Let’s take better care of our children.”