Slovenia’s healthcare system is a nuanced combination of public and private elements, albeit with a marked emphasis on the public domain. At the heart of the system lies compulsory health insurance, offering nearly universal coverage for a vast array of services. The Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, the principal public insurer, garners its funding from payroll taxes and government contributions.
The delivery of health services is realized through a mixed network of public and private providers. Public providers comprise healthcare centers providing primary level services, and hospitals and outpatient clinics that cater to secondary level needs. A selection of private providers, some of whom hold a ‘concession’ to extend publicly funded services, also play a significant role in the healthcare landscape.
In parallel to the compulsory health insurance, a majority of Slovenians also opt for complementary health insurance. This serves mainly to cover co-payments for services that don’t receive full coverage from the compulsory insurance.
Public health services in Slovenia, as outlined by legislative acts, are considered an integral part of the healthcare system. These services encompass population health monitoring and evaluation, identification of public health problems and risk factors, public health response preparedness, health protection measures, disease prevention, health promotion, public information about health status and research findings, professional training in public health, and public health research and education.
A significant shift in Slovenia’s healthcare system occurred in 2013 when all public health institutes and laboratories underwent a major restructuring. This culminated in the creation of two separate public health institutions at the national level—the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) and the National Laboratory for Health, Environment, and Food (NLZOH)—both government-funded. Operational since 2014, these organizations maintain regional structures. The 2013 reform aimed to centralize public health operations to fortify coordination, ensure stable public funding, and guarantee equitable access to public health services throughout Slovenia.
