A growing number of patients in Estonia are falling behind on hospital bills since charges were raised, ERR News reports.
About 18 months ago the fee for seeing a doctor went up from €5 to €20, and the daily charge for a hospital bed doubled to €5. Since then, the number of patients owing money to North Estonia Medical Centre has doubled and the total owed has tripled, the hospital says, with bed charges making up most of the debt. It estimates that about half of debtors simply forget to pay.
Narva Hospital reports roughly a quarter more debtors this year, while Tartu University Hospital says it has not seen the same trend. A debt collection firm said the higher fees are harder for stretched household budgets. People who owe money are now barred from specialist appointments.
Source: ERR News
