Hungary ready to embrace DRG (diagnosis related group) system:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Hungarian health ministry is working on plans to introduce diagnosis related group (DRG) funding into its health service from next year. This would replace the current system of funding where hospitals are paid for the number of beds that are occupied each day. The health ministry is convinced that the new system will encourage hospitals to be more efficient and discourage hospitals from keeping patients in bed to ensure they earn the maximum funding. Other modernisation proposals include the development of day-surgery services and extending clinic hours so that patients do not have to take time off work for medical examinations.