Difference between revisions of "Hálapénz, paraszolvencia (Hungary)"

The word ''paraszolvencia'' consists the prefix ''para'' meaning beside or beyond, and ''szolvencia'' from the Latin verb ''solvere'', meaning to loosen, solve or ease something. Thus ''paraszolvencia'' refers to actions that solve (a problem or situation) outside of the formal framework. Before the Second World War, the expression was used to refer to a petty-cash fund distributed to subordinate doctors and assistants by senior doctors in private practices<ref>Kornai, J. 2000. ‘Hidden in an Envelope’, kornai-janos.hu, http://www.kornai-janos.hu/Kornai2000-Hidden-in-an-envelope.pdf</ref>. With the disappearance of private surgeries during the communist era, ''paraszolvencia'' came to refer to gift giving and became associated with ''hálapénz'', literally ‘gratuity money.’ The distinction between sociability (monetary or non-monetary gratitude) and instrumental payments (made with a view of resolving certain issues) is subtle and often results in the interchangeable use of ''hálapénz'' and ''paraszolvencia'' in order to disguise that money has changed hands<ref>Kincses, G. 2004. ‘A paraszolvencia kérdéséről’, Kincsesgyula.hu, http://www.kincsesgyula.hu/dokumentumok/paraszolvencia%20kereserol%20publikaciohoz%20004%2002.pdf</ref>.  

The word ''paraszolvencia'' consists the prefix ''para'' meaning beside or beyond, and ''szolvencia'' from the Latin verb ''solvere'', meaning to loosen, solve or ease something. Thus ''paraszolvencia'' refers to actions that solve (a problem or situation) outside of the formal framework. Before the Second World War, the expression was used to refer to a petty-cash fund distributed to subordinate doctors and assistants by senior doctors in private practices<ref>Kornai, J. 2000. ‘Hidden in an Envelope’, kornai-janos.hu, http://www.kornai-janos.hu/Kornai2000-Hidden-in-an-envelope.pdf</ref>. With the disappearance of private surgeries during the communist era, ''paraszolvencia'' came to refer to gift giving and became associated with ''hálapénz'', literally ‘gratuity money.’ The distinction between sociability (monetary or non-monetary gratitude) and instrumental payments (made with a view of resolving certain issues) is subtle and often results in the interchangeable use of ''hálapénz'' and ''paraszolvencia'' in order to disguise that money has changed hands<ref>Kincses, G. 2004. ‘A paraszolvencia kérdéséről’, Kincsesgyula.hu, http://www.kincsesgyula.hu/dokumentumok/paraszolvencia%20kereserol%20publikaciohoz%20004%2002.pdf</ref>.  

It is often overlooked that ''hálapénz'' can be uncomfortable for the recipients as well. In 2015, ''1001 doctors against hálapénz'' formed a Facebook group and published an open letter addressing the issues of low wages and poor working conditions leading to the dependence of medical institutions on the informal income from ''hálapénz'' payments. The medical staff initiative emphasised that some physicians treat gifts as deposit for successful treatment or surgery and that gratuity payments ‘have nothing to do with gratitude anymore, because everybody is paying out of worry for their security. More precisely, for the illusion of security…’<ref>1001 Orvos hálapénz nélkül. 2015. ‘Nyílt level’, http://www.peticiok.com/az_1001_orvos_halapenz_nelkul_csoport_nyilt_levele_2015 </ref>. Yet being under treatment is often not only stressful but also passive. Patients may feel subordinated due to their limited medical competence. ''Hálapénz'' personalises the service, empowers a patient and provides one with a ‘sense of ownership and to become active decision-makers in one’s own healing process. Deciding upon what, how and why to give makes them matter again”<ref>Burai, P. 2016. Facing and Overcoming the Limitations of Anti-Corruption Legislation (Ph.D. thesis). Budapest: Eötvös Lóránd Tudományegyetem, pg. 167</ref>. Patients that insist on giving ‘’hálapénz’’ even when the doctor is unwilling to accept it, use tactics such as posting the money or leaving gifts in front of the doctors’ residences.  

It is often overlooked that ''hálapénz'' can be uncomfortable for the recipients as well. In 2015, ''1001 doctors against hálapénz'' formed a Facebook group and published an open letter addressing the issues of low wages and poor working conditions leading to the dependence of medical institutions on the informal income from ''hálapénz'' payments. The medical staff initiative emphasised that some physicians treat gifts as deposit for successful treatment or surgery and that gratuity payments ‘have nothing to do with gratitude anymore, because everybody is paying out of worry for their security. More precisely, for the illusion of security…’<ref>1001 Orvos hálapénz nélkül. 2015. ‘Nyílt level’, http://www.peticiok.com/az_1001_orvos_halapenz_nelkul_csoport_nyilt_levele_2015 </ref>. Yet being under treatment is often not only stressful but also passive. Patients may feel subordinated due to their limited medical competence. ''Hálapénz'' personalises the service, empowers a patient and provides one with a ‘sense of ownership and to become active decision-makers in one’s own healing process. Deciding upon what, how and why to give makes them matter again”<ref>Burai, P. 2016. Facing and Overcoming the Limitations of Anti-Corruption Legislation (Ph.D. thesis). Budapest: Eötvös Lóránd Tudományegyetem, pg. 167</ref>. Patients that insist on giving ‘’hálapénz’’ even when the doctor is unwilling to accept it, use tactics such as posting the money or leaving gifts in front of the doctors’ residences.  

==Further Reading==

==Further Reading==