Slovenia: health system review 2021

ABSTRACT

The average life expectancy in the EU is 80.6 years, and although it will (temporarily) decrease by one year in 2020 due to high COVID-19-related mortality, it has climbed significantly over the past two decades. The major causes of death are circulatory disorders and malignancies, but other factors, including dietary practices, alcohol intake, and smoking rates, have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality rates as well. Additionally, gender and other socioeconomic determinants contribute to significant inequalities in population health. Slovenia's per capita health spending is lower than the average for the EU, but it has continuously climbed, reaching US$ PPP 2283 in 2019. With a single state insurer, the SHI system offers nearly universal coverage for a variety of benefits. High co-insurance rates have also led to widespread use of additional, voluntary health insurance (VHI). Diversifying funding sources and raising additional funds for health care are perennial policy debate topics. In Slovenia, there is a long-standing relationship between primary care and public health initiatives. A network of community-based primary health care centers, which offer preventative, diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, palliative, and health promotion services close to patients' homes under one roof by a variety of health care experts, provides primary care in the majority of cases. Doctors of personal primary care serve as the entry points to secondary-level specialty treatment. Long-term care services are currently undergoing a comprehensive reform. There are very few unmet medical requirements explicitly related to cost (or travel time) and there is little difference between economic levels. Long waiting periods, particularly for specialized services, continue despite substantial efforts, and they are the main cause of unmet medical need. In addition, some healthcare professionals, particularly primary care doctors and registered nurses working in hospitals, are dispersed unevenly and at low levels. The adoption of digital technologies, especially during the past year, has been significant and has aided in preserving access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.