The social democrat party won victories in all 12 Czech regions, promising to halt, and even reverse, the move to private healthcare.

The national parliament has two and a half years to run, and is still controlled by the Civic Democrats, but their healthcare reforms, which include a small capitation fee to visit a doctor and for drugs, are likely to be stymied.

The victory is also certain to rule out any further hospital privatisation measures.

The Social Democrats campaigned under the slogan: “No payments, no fees and no privatisation!”

The private sector hospitals typically work 99% of the time for the social insurers. Private and public hospitals sign contracts, typically of two years ,with the mutual insurance funds.

Hospitals were privatised in two waves, a rather murky one in the early 1990s, another more recently in 2004-2006. The three big chains are PP, Agel and Mediterra.