Background: In recent years, dental clusters and networks have been established in primary care in many countries to improve access to services for the population and develop cooperation between providers. In Hungary, the first dental clusters were established in 2021, and currently, one-third of dental practices have already joined a cluster. The study aimed to gather and analyze early experiences regarding the motivation of participation in primary care dental clusters and experiences of implementation.Methods: Qualitative in-depth individual interviews with primary care dentists (n = 21). The study was designed to meet the COREQ criteria for reporting qualitative research. The research team members defined a purposive sample of interviewees. All interviews were conducted from March to April 2024. A qualitative content analysis method was used to analyze the interview transcripts. The WHO health system framework was chosen for the theoretical framework of the analysis.Results: The motivations for joining a dental cluster were financial reasons, professional development and knowledge exchange. Lack of information and distrust were barriers to joining the dental clusters. Different professional management practices have developed within the clusters. In the interviewees' opinion, the population's access to preventive dental services has not yet changed substantially under the new operational model. The portfolio of services offered by dental clusters could be expanded to include a range of types of care. Digital health technologies and innovative solutions should be developed and widely adopted.Conclusions: In designing policy measures to promote the broader adoption of the dental cluster model, it is helpful to consider the different factors influencing dentists' decisions during implementation. Dental clusters can benefit the public and dentists, but further development of the model and improvement of the primary conditions for the operation of practices are essential.

Background: In 2021, Hungary introduced general practitioner (GP) clusters to improve access to local healthcare and strengthen cooperation among primary care providers. However, there is limited evidence on how these clusters operate. Objective: The aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive description of how GP practices and clusters function, and to describe variables associated with a GP's participation in a cluster. Methods: We analysed national data on general practices and GP clusters in Hungary for the period 2021–2024. This data was obtained from the National Hospital Directorate and supplemented with information from publicly available sources. After harmonising and integrating the data, we used descriptive statistical methods to characterise the operation of practices and clusters. We also used multivariate regression models to examine factors associated with GPs' decisions to join a cluster. Results: Between 2021 and 2024, the number of GP clusters increased from 365 to 422. Nearly half of all practices had joined by 2024. On average, clusters included seven practices, with one-third collaborating with dentists. Significant regional disparities were observed in cluster participation, while the adoption of digital health technologies and point-of-care tests remained limited. While GP clusters have expanded nationwide, participation appears higher in better-resourced districts. Conclusion: As in many other developed countries, GP clusters have become increasingly widespread in Hungary. One-third of these clusters involve collaboration between GPs and dentists. While these clusters provide a variety of professional services, challenges persist due to vacant practices and regional disparities. To ensure sustainability, future efforts should strengthen digital health integration and promote the widespread adoption of innovative services provided by GP clusters.

COVID-19 vaccines reduce hospitalization risk, but data on severe outcomes are limited. We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on severe outcomes in hospitalized patients in Hungary during the pre-Omicron era, addressing a regional knowledge gap. This retrospective study included hospitalized patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (March 2020 - December 2021) who were categorized as unvaccinated, primary immunized, or booster-vaccinated. Outcomes included oxygen therapy, ventilation types, ECMO, and death, with the most severe outcome as the primary outcome and individual outcomes as secondary measures. Polytomous logistic regression calculated relative risk ratios for the primary outcome and COVID-19 vaccination status, while logistic regression estimated odds ratios for individual outcomes. During the study, 7575 patients were hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19: 6420 (84.8 %) were unvaccinated, 1016 (13.4 %) received a primary vaccination series, and 139 (1.8 %) had received a booster dose. COVID-19 vaccination reduced the risk of both invasive ventilation and in-hospital death as the most severe outcome by 50 % within 12 months (relative risk ratio [RRR]: 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.30-0.89; 0.50, 95 % CI: 0.41-0.61). Booster doses within six months decreased the risk of in-hospital death to a similar extent (RRR 0.46, 95 % CI: 0.30-0.72). Primary and booster vaccination reduced the risk of progression to severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Hungary provides the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in a setting where naturally acquired immunity and hybrid immunity are likely to play a greater role due to suboptimal vaccination coverage. Methods: A test-negative study was conducted during the 2022–2023 respiratory season at the primary care level to determine the effectiveness of at least one COVID-19 booster dose in preventing medically attended symptomatic RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults. Unvaccinated patients were used as a reference group. Results: A total of 247 cases and 1073 controls were included in the analysis. CVE was 56.8% (95% CI: 11.9–78.8%) in the population aged 60 years and older and 2.3% (95% CI: −50.0–36.3%) in the younger adults against COVID-19 caused by Omicron subvariants, mainly BA.5, BQ.1, and XBB.1. Self-reported COVID-19 in the 60–365 days prior to the current illness did not confer protection against reinfection without vaccination, but together with booster vaccination, it reduced the risk of COVID-19 by 63.0% (95% CI: −28.0–89.3%) and 87.6% (95% CI: 26.4–97.9%) among the 18–59 and 60+ age groups, respectively. Conclusions: CVE against COVID-19 was moderately high in the 60+ age groups. Because of the benefit of hybrid immunity, persons with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection should still be considered for vaccination campaigns.

Background: A substantial challenge in Hungary’s publicly funded primary care system is the rising proportion of unfilled general practitioner and dentist practices over the past several years, which negatively impacts the public’s access to primary care services. The practice cluster model introduced in 2021 aims to improve public access and strengthen collaboration among primary care providers, with a particular focus on interprofessional relationships between general practitioners and dentists. Methodology: As part of the study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 primary care professionals (18 general practitioners and 18 dentists) between January and March 2026. Sampling was targeted to ensure diversity across geography, demographics, and practice type. We analyzed the data using Mayring’s content analysis method, organized into thematic categories. Results: The primary motivation for joining primary care clusters was financial incentives, while the development of professional collaboration played a secondary role. The intensity of collaboration between general practitioners and dentists varies; nearly half of the interviewees reported minimal contact. The main areas of collaboration include oral diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and medication consultations. Cooperation is most often hindered by heavy workloads, communication gaps, and regulatory and financial constraints. Conclusion: Primary care clusters offer opportunities for developing interprofessional collaboration; however, systemic barriers limit the realization of this potential. To achieve more effective collaboration, it is necessary to improve communication, establish professional protocols, and reform the financial, regulatory, and infrastructural frameworks.

Background: The 2024/25 influenza season in Hungary experienced a major surge in cases, the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in primary care settings among adults and vaccination target groups, and also according to time since vaccination, prior seasonal vaccination, and influenza type. Methods: A test-negative case–control study was conducted in Hungary. Data and specimens were collected from primary care patients with an acute respiratory infection (ARI). Patients with positive PCR test results for influenza were classified as cases, while those with negative test results for influenza were classified as controls. Adjusted VEs were calculated using logistic regression as (1 − odds ratio of vaccination) × 100. Results: Between November 2024 and May 2025, 2074 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 395 cases had influenza. Of the 129 vaccinated patients, 123 (95%) received trivalent inactivated adjuvanted whole-cell vaccine (TIAV), and 6 (5%) received quadrivalent split-virion vaccine. The VE against any influenza was 53% (95% CI: 13–74) in the 18+ age group and 52% (95% CI: 7–75) in the target group for vaccination. The VE against any influenza was 63% (95% CI: 17–84) 14–89 days after vaccination, and 27% (95% CI: −67–68) 90 days or more after vaccination. The VE against any influenza was 56% (95% CI: 1–80) with both current and prior seasonal vaccination, and 5% (95% CI: −64–45) with only prior seasonal vaccination. The VE against influenza A was 39% (95% CI: −16–68), and against influenza B was 80% (95% CI: 2–96). Conclusions: We observed moderate vaccine effectiveness against any influenza, with higher protection within three months after vaccination. Our research findings provide evidence to inform the development of vaccines and the scheduling of vaccination campaigns, with the aim of maximizing the level of protection provided by vaccines throughout the entire influenza season.