Hospitals have exceeded their budget for 2005-2007 by far more than initially expected, says the umbrella organisation for health insurers. Original estimates put extra expenditure at €291 mln, but a further over-spending of €230mln is now expected, the organisation said today.

The latest over-spending is caused by more patients reporting to hospitals for help, it said.
The insurers have called for a meeting with the health ministry as soon as possible to discuss the situation.
In January the courts ruled that all three parties – hospitals, government and insurers – would have to share extra budget costs.