Healthcare in Slovenia
As a part of the EU, the quality of health care in Slovenia is high and almost at par with those of other European countries. Health services are dispensed through the public healthcare system, which also includes private health service providers and private physicians on a concession basis.
In 1992, the government of Slovenia started implementing the Healthcare and Health Insurance Act which was designed to create structural reforms on the Slovene healthcare system. The law’s main objective is to introduce mandatory and voluntary health insurance plans that will engage both the private and the public sector in providing resources that will help finance the healthcare system. With the help of the Ministry of Health who is responsible for funding hospitals and health programmes, the local government of Slovenia ensures that all citizens and eligible foreign nationals in the country will have access to quality medical and healthcare services.
Compulsory Health Insurance
All residents of Slovenia, including foreign nationals who are residing and working in Slovenia and are paying taxes, are covered by the unique compulsory health insurance scheme as an obligatory member. Compulsory health insurance is provided for the entire population of the country by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod Za Zdravstveno Zavarovanje Slovenije).
All workers in Slovenia, including those who are self-employed or are retired and getting a pension from a Slovenian insurance provider, are insured under the public health insurance scheme. The dependents of an employee are also insured under the public health scheme, provided that they are also permanent residents of Slovenia or do not have any other means of being insured by the compulsory health insurance. It should be noted that children are covered as a family member only up to the age of 15-years-old or 18-years-old if the child is not insured in any other way; and after such age, if the child is still attending school, for example, until the end of regular education.
Voluntary Health Insurance
In addition to the compulsory health insurance provided by the government, Slovenes and foreign nationals also have the freedom to apply for a voluntary health insurance policy provided for by insurance companies in Slovenia. This is to enjoy additional benefits or entitlements which are not covered in full by the Slovenian compulsory health insurance scheme. A huge number of the Slovenian population is said to have voluntary health insurance plans for additional coverage. Primary healthcare services in Slovenia are locally organised to provide medical services that are accessible to everyone without any bias.
Visiting a Doctor
Everyone who is covered by the compulsory health insurance scheme is issued a free electronic health insurance card upon the first regulation of the compulsory health insurance status. The health insurance card must be presented every time a patient visits a doctor to seek medical services. Generally speaking, all Slovene citizens are allowed to choose one personal physician without any territorial or administrative restraints.
Doctors in Slovenia are called ‘doktor’ and are the first point of care for any non-emergency medical needs. Expats should keep in mind though that Slovenia is currently experiencing a shortage in doctors and nurses so expect that waiting time in hospitals can be a bit long.
Hospitals in Slovenia
Currently, there are 29 hospitals in Slovenia. 18 are reserved especially for clinical and general treatments, two for maternity care, two for pulmonary, two for orthopaedic, one for rehabilitation and four for mental conditions. There are also has 69 primary health stations and 64 primary healthcare centres scattered across the entire country. Some of the most prominent hospitals in Slovenia are:
Golnik 36, 4204 Golnik
Tel: +386 4 25 69 100
JZ Splošna bolnišnica Celje, Oblakova ulica 5, 3000 Celje
Tel: (03) 423 3000
Bohoričeva 20, 1000 Ljubljana
Tel: +386 31420200
Ljubljanska street 5, 2000 Maribor
Tel: 02/321 1000
Emergency Numbers
The following numbers can be contacted in case you find yourself in an emergency situation in Slovenia:
- Rescue/Ambulance: 144
- Fire brigade: 122
- Police: 133
- Emergency: 112
- Emergency services for children and young people: 147
- Gas-related emergency: 128
- Mountain rescue: 140
Aside from Slovenian, emergency calls can also be answered in English. In some parts of Slovenia, emergency calls can be answered in Hungarian and Italian.
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