State Secretary Gyurkó says partial funding from government has arrived for child protection reforms

During a Budapest conference on the state of child protection, Gyurkó Szilvia reported that the government has begun disbursing a portion of the funds her ministry asked for, with additional payments still in process for the social and child-welfare portfolios. She said the money will support systemic reforms, including new housing projects for vulnerable children. Gyurkó also noted that a legislative amendment on child protection is slated for parliamentary debate later this year, covering foster-care networks, orphanage conditions, and the number of infants remaining in hospitals.

She called for an end to the practice of placing children wherever space is available and urged changes to the law governing foster-parent suitability assessments. The minister emphasized ongoing inter-ministerial talks to bolster primary health services, which she sees as essential to addressing the absurdly high number of hospitalized newborns. Budget negotiations with the Finance Ministry are underway, and she will attend a government meeting later in the week.