Although foreign tourists are missing in the Czech Republic due to coronavirus, the spa seems to be bursting at the quarters. “I am after hip surgery and for two hours I called the spa all over the Czech Republic so that I could get proper treatment for the insured,” Mr. František complained. However, the call was in vain – they had no vacancy anywhere.
“I tried it from Luhačovice to Mariánské Lázně. They told me everywhere that they were already occupied. At the same time, I am entitled to a medical stay in the spa three months after the operation. Unfortunately, our government issued vouchers. then I need to go to the spa, so I won’t get there, “lamented Mr. František.
According to the president of the Association of Medical Spas Eduard Bláha, however, vouchers have nothing to do with it. “The state has set such conditions that the spa cannot accept the vouchers. People would like to go to the spa, but they will not go for the full price. It is nonsense that someone would not get there because of the vouchers,” he told TN.cz.
The spa can only accept a limited number of vouchers, so the interest clearly exceeds the real offer. On the website of most spas, people will learn that they can no longer use the voucher here. “The capacity for stays with support is already exhausted by the end of October,” informs Lázně Mšené.
Even in Luhačovice, people in a spa would only look in vain for a stay. “All our accommodation capacities (hotels, villas and boarding houses) are sold out by 30 September. We are currently accepting orders for stays from October 2020 without the possibility of applying a discount voucher,” the Luhačovice spa website states.
It is not even possible to call some spas. The telephone lines are overloaded due to unprecedented interest, and through the answering machine the client learns that he should use e-mail to communicate with the center.
“I did not register the fact that the spa would reject clients after operations,” said Jitka Ettler Štěpánková, secretary of the Association of Spa Resorts, on the issue.
“As far as I know, there is a bit of a problem with reservations in the COVID-Lázně system, where some spas have filled their capacity allowed under public support and are now awaiting notification from the EU to increase. equipment for these reservations, “adds Štěpánková.
“Alternatively, there may be a problem of limited capacity linked to contracts with insurance companies, or a guest’s request to stay free of charge. The summer months are of course occupied in some spas. The COVID-Spa program certainly supported the demand of other clients, so it is possible that in in some spas it is difficult to find a place in a hurry, “Štěpánková explains the possible snag.
According to the Ministry of Health, the patient does not provide the spa himself at all. “If he has an approved proposal for spa care from a health insurance company, the correct procedure is for the insurance company to send this proposal to the spas listed first, and they will then invite the patient to start,” said ministry spokesman Kryštof Berka.
“If he has not yet approved the proposal from the insurance company, the spa should not even reserve a stay for him. premature to judge so far, “added Berka.
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