Indicators: per 10,000 population (2004)
Number of doctors 23
Number of dentists 6
Number of nurses 75
Number of hospital beds 53
Indicators: total (2004)
Number of residents in old people’s homes 13,800
Number of inmates in work units for the disabled 2,467
Average number of claimants of social security benefits 66,000
Source: Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs
Number of pensioners 2004 523,854
Old age pension 58.9%
Invalidity pension 18.4%
Widow’s pension 3.2%
Family pension 14.5%
Farmer’s pension 1.0%
State pension 3.1%
Source: Institute of Pension and Disability Insurance of Slovenia
Social Security
In the Republic of Slovenia, under the provisions of the country’s constitution, the state is bound to make arrangements for compulsory health, pension, disability and other social insurance, and to see that they function properly. At the same time it is bound to protect the family, motherhood, fatherhood, children and young people, and to create the necessary conditions for this.
The state ensures and develops the functioning of social protection institutions, creates the conditions for private work in the social protection sphere and supports and promotes the development of self-help, charitable work, forms of independent life for persons with disability and other forms of voluntary work in the area of social protection.
Provision is also made for the group of socially at-risk citizens who through no fault of their own are without work, or cannot find jobs and are unemployed. Employment Service offices have the status of public institutions and are involved in seeking jobs for unemployed persons. Social protection services are geared towards preventing social hardship and difficulties for individuals, families and certain groups of the population that are unable to help themselves.
Under the new act governing pension and disability insurance, which has been in force since January 2000, the system of retirement is similar to that elsewhere in Europe. A new, three-pillar system of pension and disability insurance has been implemented. An important feature is the principle of solidarity – greater rights are enjoyed by those insured persons who, in terms of the extent of their insurance, would receive so little that their social security would be at risk.
The competent body for planning and implementing social protection is the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs.
Health Care
Health care is a public service provided through the public health service network. This network also includes, on an equal basis, other institutions, private physicians and other private service providers on the basis of concessions. With relatively limited public funds available for this purpose, the level of health care in Slovenia is entirely comparable with the level of health care in the advanced countries of Europe.
Primary health care services are organised on the local level, such that they are equally accessible to all people without discrimination. All people must be assured continuously accessible urgent medical attention and emergency services.
In Slovenia, the system of health insurance is divided into compulsory health insurance, voluntary health insurance for additional coverage and insurance for services that are not a constituent part of compulsory insurance. Compulsory health insurance is compulsory for all citizens with permanent residence in Slovenia. In this, everyone is bound to pay contributions under the solidarity principle. Compulsory insurance does not, however, ensure coverage of all costs that arise in treatment. Complete coverage of costs is provided only for children, schoolchildren and for certain diseases and conditions. For the provision of voluntary health insurance, in 1999 a new Mutual Health Insurance organisation (Vzajemna zdravstvena zavarovalnica) was established. It is owned by its members – insured persons – and operates according to the principles of mutuality and non-profit status. Voluntary health insurance can be offered by other insurance companies, provided that it is organised as long-term insurance, that they insure everybody, irrespective of their state of health, and that the insurance company makes no distinctions between those insured.
Owing to the rapid development of science and technology, an increasing proportion of elderly people in the population (demographic changes in Slovenia are among the least favourable) and a growing number of patients with chronic illness, the costs of health care are rising steeply.
The competent body for planning and implementing health care is the Ministry of Health.