Many hospitals have so few qualified staff that some wards are simply closed off to patients. Direkt36’s latest investigation reveals that this leads to serious problems in healthcare.

The project’s goal is to strengthen cross-border investigative journalism in Europe.

Although Antal Rogán (the powerful minister running the cabinet of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán) proudly announced more than ten years ago that excessively high credit fees had been curbed, in reality, an escape route remained for companies dealing in quick loans. Direkt36 found out that Provident, the largest player in the market, is taking advantage of this, while also building good relationships with an influential Fidesz leader.

The Prime Minister has long said that he would like to grow the population of Hungary without bringing in immigrants. In recent years, however, not only has the number of births fallen, but the number of people leaving the country has also soared. According to a comprehensive data analysis by Direkt36, many young people left as well, which poses huge risks for the country.

“No reform, that’s my motto” – a few years ago, this was the prime minister’s explanation for not touching healthcare. But in 2010 he made big promises to improve the system.

Closing hospital wards jeopardizes the safe treatment of patients. The problem is particularly acute in smaller rural institutions. Direkt36 uses the story of a deceased pregnant woman to illustrate the deterioration of healthcare in the region.

The government is trying to hide the problems Hungarian hospitals are facing. However, Direkt36 used artificial intelligence to process more than a thousand official documents, which paint a devastating picture of how healthcare professionals struggle on a daily basis.

Originally part of Nieman Report’s “Dear America” series of essays that appeared November 26, 2024, we published the Hungarian version of our founder and editor András Pethő’s article on Hungarian Press Freedom Day, 2025.

The prize was founded in memory of Hungarian journalist László Szente, who died in 2022, by his former colleagues, Katalin Rangos and Sándor Friderikusz.

(Magyar) Panyi Szabolcs és Pethő András kapta a rangos elismerést a hírszerzés ellentmondásos műveleteiről és egy titkosszolgálati razziáról szóló cikkükért.