In an interview with Kateřina Fritzlová, a lawyer at PRK Partners’ Ostrava office, we discuss legal challen ges in healthcare, energy, and regional development. We explore why compliance, data protection, and stable legislation are crucial for long-term investments today, and whether there are differences in the legal environment and investment potential in Prague, Ostrava, and Bratislava.
What are the most urgent legal challenges currently affecting the healthcare sector in Czechia? Are hospitals, spa facilities, and private healthcare providers altering their approach to compliance and patient data protection?
Currently, the healthcare sector is mainly focused on navigating a highly regulated environment while still managing to grow. Beyond issues of financing and relationships with health insurance companies, there is also responsibility in delivering care, government oversight, and a growing emphasis on transparency. The approach to patient data protection has evolved considerably. What was once viewed mainly as a technical requirement is now a matter of trust and reputation. Providers understand that a data breach or cyberattack can have grave consequences, leading to compliance being addressed more systematically at the management level rather than merely formally.
In recent years, many investment projects in the healthcare sector have emerged, ranging from hospital modernisation to innovations in spa treatments. What legal challenges or systemic issues do you believe are slowing down the implementation of these projects?
Several factors are currently obstructing the development of hospitals and spa care. It is primarily a combination of multiple issues. These typically involve lengthy approval processes, complex property rights issues, and stringent regulations on public investment, all of which make it challenging to adapt flexibly to changes during a project. Healthcare projects are highly dynamic – technological and operational needs change more rapidly than the legal framework. When a project requires adjustments during implementation, it often faces worries about potential rule violations, causing unnecessary delays, even if the overall intent is positive.
Energy transformation is now a challenge not only for industry but also for cities and municipalities. From a legal framework perspective, what should investors and municipalities focus on when developing renewable energy and community energy projects?
It is crucial not to underestimate legal preparation from the beginning. Investors and municipalities need clarity on project management, responsibility, and the distribution of risks and benefits. This is particularly important in community energy projects, where various entities with differing expectations are involved. Permitting, land relations, and securing grid connections are frequently encountered issues. If not addressed promptly, even well-intentioned projects can fail. In this context, the law should serve as a tool to provide stability and ensure long-term sustainability, rather than being an obstacle.
The company PRK Partners operates in Prague, Ostrava, and Bratislava. What legal issues do you think characterise each of these regions, and where do you see opportunities for business growth or attracting new investors from this perspective?
Prague is marked by intense pressure on land and a highly complex permit process, particularly for development and infrastructure projects. Legal work often involves balancing public interest with private
investment. The Ostrava Region is defined by the transformation of industrial areas, dealing with brownfields, energy, and large investment projects. Legal issues often revolve around removing historical
obstacles and preparing land for new developments. Bratislava, similar to Prague and other capital cities, encounters challenges in development. Despite the Czech and Slovak markets being close geographically, each has unique characteristics. Our Bratislava office has focused on these for over 30 years. PRK Partners’ presence in Central Europe allows it to offer advice considering regional specifics.
Experience in the energy, healthcare, and regional development sectors demonstrates that legal stability is crucial for investment security. How do you evaluate the legislative environment in Czechia regarding long-term projects?
The Czech legislative environment has strong foundations, but its variability and unpredictable interpretation pose challenges for long term projects. Investors can manage strict rules if they are stable and clear. The main uncertainty comes not from the laws themselves, but from their frequent changes and the varying approaches of different authorities. For long-term investments, it is essential that rules remain clear even years later. Legal stability is not just an abstract idea but a practical condition for the successful implementation of projects. It also plays a key role in investors’ decisions on whether to choose the Czech Republic over neighbouring countries amid strong competition.
Kateřina Fritzlová heads PRK Partners’ Ostrava office and has been with the firm since 2009. Her practice draws on long standing expertise in real estate and construction law, civil and commercial law, dispute resolution, and employment law. She advises regional and state healthcare providers, particularly on matters that require rigorous risk management and clear contractual frameworks. She also tracks the real estate market closely; in employment law, she handles both collective bargaining and individual employment matters and delivers training for corporate managers. In contentious matters, she prioritises negotiation and out-of-court settlement and takes an active interest in mediation. She also leverages her experience as head of the legal department of a multinational company in cross-border commercial matters. In 2024, she earned an LL.M. in Health Law from the Faculty of Law, Charles University. She is a member of the Leaders Club, has three children, and has long linked her work to the Moravian-Silesian Region.
