A local official of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) rejected allegations of his party’s opposing plans for a central hospital in south-eastern Budapest, but called for “rational and effective” disbursement of funds for health care. Imre László, deputy mayor of Budapest’s 11th district, insisted that the government is painting his party as the main obstacle for the planned hospital construction. “We never said that the hospital was not necessary,” László said, but added that the 250 billion forints (EUR 750m) earmarked for the plans could be used more purposefully. He argued that 50 billion forints would be enough for the reconstruction of Szent Imre Hospital, in his district, while Szent János Hospital in the 2nd district, a notoriously neglected health complex, could be made into a modern health centre with a budget of 200 billion.