title: Slovenia: Health System Review.
abstract: This analysis of the Slovene health system reviews recent developments in organization and governance, health financing, health care provision, health reforms and health system performance. The health of the population has improved over the last few decades. While life expectancy for both men and women is similar to EU averages, morbidity and mortality data show persistent disparities between regions, and mortality from external causes is particularly high. Satisfaction with health care delivery is high, but recently waiting times for some outpatient specialist services have increased. Greater focus on preventive measures is also needed as well as better care coordination, particularly for those with chronic conditions. Despite having relatively high levels of co-payments for many services covered by the universal compulsory health insurance system, these expenses are counterbalanced by voluntary health insurance, which covers 95% of the population liable for co-payments. However, Slovenia is somewhat unique among social health insurance countries in that it relies almost exclusively on payroll contributions to fund its compulsory health insurance system. This makes health sector revenues very susceptible to economic and labour market fluctuations. A future challenge will be to diversify the resource base for health system funding and thus bolster sustainability in the longer term, while preserving service delivery and quality of care. Given changing demographics and morbidity patterns, further challenges include restructuring the funding and provision of long-term care and enhancing health system efficiency through reform of purchasing and provider-payment systems.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Albreht
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Radivoje
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pribakovic Brinovec
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Josar
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mircha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poldrugovac
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tatja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kostnapfel
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia.
authors.forename: Metka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaletel
authors.affiliation: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panteli
authors.affiliation: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maresso
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000379:methods; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006291:Health Policy; D061889:Healthcare Financing; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017524:Slovenia