Slovakia failed to meet late payment directive for hospitals

The EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that Slovakia failed to comply with the EU directive on late payments by public hospitals to suppliers. The 2011 directive mandates public authorities to pay suppliers within 30 days, or 60 days for hospitals. The court noted persistent delays in payments by Slovak state hospitals, negatively impacting small and medium-sized enterprises in healthcare. The European Commission initiated legal proceedings against Slovakia in 2017, citing insufficient responses to requests for compliance. The court found that from 2015 to 2022, Slovakia did not ensure timely payments, with averages reaching up to 750 days. The CJEU concluded that Slovakia must comply with the ruling, or face potential financial penalties from the European Commission.
 
Source: TASR