Slovenia’s Ministry of Health has prepared a draft law aimed at improving access to healthcare. The proposal is open for public consultation until November 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key change: if someone loses access to their family doctor, pediatrician, or gynecologist, the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZZZS) will be required to find them a new doctor within 15 days. The search will begin in the patient’s local area before expanding to other regions. Where multiple options are available, patients must be offered at least three doctors to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ZZZS will also help patients facing excessively long waiting times find earlier appointments at other healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem in numbers: 140,000 people in Slovenia do not have a personal doctor. Patient rights advocate Irena \u017dagar is skeptical about the initiative, arguing that administrative measures are unlikely to help given the severe shortage of medical professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n