Lower house overrides presidential veto of bill banning transformation of hospitals

The lower house has once again approved a bill banning the transformation of hospitals into commercial entities. The chamber overrode the president's veto on Friday and once again approved an amendment banning such transformations. Opponents of the amendment say it is in breach of the constitution. The Health Minister, Social Democrat Milada Emmerova, says she wants to prevent the transformation of hospitals as she believes they would no longer provide a full range of health care but concentrate instead on more profitable branches of medicine.