OBJECTIVES : The aim of our study is to describe the practice of sector-neutral reimbursement of health care in Hungary, and to assess the performance and reimbursement of the Hungarian curative-preventive health care providers according to ownership type.

METHODS : We analysed changes in the amount of financial units (weight number, german-point, capitation etc.) between 2000-2017. For comparability we used values of December 2000. for calculating fix-based index for each unit. We assessed four type of ownerships (central and local government, for-profit enterprises, non-profit providers) within the curative-preventive sector. Data were derived from the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA).

RESULTS : Health care providers in Hungary can be contracted by the NHIFA regardless of ownership type since 1992 and can get reimbursement with the same conditions. As of 2017, most of providers were government bodies in: district nurse service (86.1%); outpatient care (82.5%); CT/MRI (84%); acute inpatient care (97.4%) and in chronic inpatient care (88.4%), while private sector dominated in general practitioner service (90.7%); dental care (81.8%); patient transportation (94%); home special nursing (95.9%) and dialysis (87.1%). We also analysed changes of certain financial units according to dominant ownership forms between 2000-2017. Since 2000. units of health care services provided by private bodies increased less (1.68 times more in 2017), than services where the majority of providers are governmental (2.01 times more).

CONCLUSIONS : The difference between financial units can be explained with the income correction since 2016, where the promised increase is basically built in the values of these units. Overall, a health care system that not only operates, but contracts private providers for public funding can satisfy the needs of a nation’s population.