Zhodnocení vývoje lázeňské péče v České republice

Abstract

This bachelor’s thesis provides a comprehensive assessment of the development of spa care services in the Czech Republic between 2012 and 2022. The main objective of the thesis is to evaluate, based on an analysis of secondary data, the developmental trends in this sector, which was influenced by legislative changes and extraordinary external factors during the decade under review. The first sub-objective is to analyze the development of patient numbers broken down by individual indication groups and age categories. The second sub-objective is to evaluate the patient structure in terms of the method of care reimbursement, focusing on the difference between stays covered by public health insurance and self-pay patients. The theoretical part of the thesis defines the position of the spa industry within the healthcare system, describes its historical development, and outlines the legislative framework and forms of financing. The practical part utilizes time series analysis methods applied to data from healthcare information systems. The analysis focuses on identifying key changes in patient volume and clientele structure in connection with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research tracks the predominant types of illnesses in both the adult and pediatric populations and compares their development over time. The thesis also examines the shift in the ratio of domestic to foreign patients in the context of the economic stability of spa facilities. The findings serve to confirm the importance of comprehensive spa care as a stabilizing element of the entire system. The conclusion summarizes the main trends and evaluates the achievement of all set objectives.