Summary
The Law establishes the general framework for protecting citizens’ health and organising the healthcare system. It allocates responsibilities among public authorities and describes public, private and other healthcare sectors, financing, licensing of medical and pharmaceutical activity, sanitary and epidemiological protection, and forms of medical-social assistance. Separate provisions address primary, urgent, emergency and specialised care, medical examinations and expertise, and the legal position of medical and pharmaceutical professionals.
Patients are entitled to respectful and humane treatment, a choice of doctor and institution, appropriate conditions for assessment and treatment, consultations by other specialists, information about their health, voluntary consent or refusal, confidentiality, and access to a representative or lawyer. Informed voluntary consent is a necessary precondition for medical intervention. When urgent intervention is required and the person cannot express a decision, the matter is decided by a medical panel or, if one cannot be convened, by the treating or duty doctor, followed by the required notification. Other care without consent is limited to grounds and procedures established by legislation.
The Law defines medical confidentiality and identifies specific circumstances in which information may be disclosed without the patient’s consent. It also permits complaints about violations of patient rights to the institution’s management, a higher health authority or a court. For practitioners, it is a foundational reference for patient information, consent and refusal records, clinical documentation, confidentiality, emergency care and work with legal representatives. The precise exceptions and amendment history should be verified on the official LexUZ page.