Health: Private Clinics Respond to Minister's Comments on Subsidies

The National Association of Private Clinics (ANCP) has expressed surprise at the minister's comments regarding public subsidies, emphasizing that, to their knowledge, no private clinic member of the association has ever received public funding for either operations or equipment. The association represents the vast majority of private healthcare facilities in the country, which it claims gives it a "national representativeness." In light of the minister's statements, private clinics are requesting clarification on the specific laws or regulatory measures referenced, along with a complete list of these provisions to ensure "total transparency" with the public. They also urge the publication of the names of any potential beneficiaries and the amounts involved to "avoid any confusion" and guarantee "accurate information" for the public. The ANCP warns of the risk of "confusion in public opinion" that such statements could create, arguing that they present a misleading image of a sector that has contributed to public health efforts alongside the state system for decades. The clinics remind that they treat thousands of patients each year who choose to receive care there, thereby "actively participating in the development of the national healthcare system." Finally, the ANCP reiterates its commitment to maintaining a "sincere and constructive" dialogue with the ministry to strengthen the complementarity between the public and private sectors and to prevent any future "misunderstandings."