The most important objectives for the Health Ministry this year will be to establish a balance between public and private health care, improve breast cancer treatment and replace outdated diagnostic and treatment devices, Health Minister Andrej Brucan told the press on Thursday.
According to Brucan, the share of private primary and secondary health care is too low. The ministry will draft new legislation for awarding concessions, and wants to motivate private investors to invest in public health care, which will also require a legislative framework.
Investments reign prominent on the ministry's agenda: SIT 11bn (EUR 45.9m) is earmarked this year for investment, with 70 percent allocated for construction works and 30 percent for equipment.
According to Brucan, the money will be used in particular for the treatment of life-threatening conditions. Magnetic resonance treatment will also be given high priority.
To ensure high-quality breast cancer treatment, the ministry intends to combine outpatient clinics and mammography clinics and create breast-disease treatment centres. All women between 50 and 70 would be examined once every two years, while high-risk patients would be eligible before the age of 50.
Another priority area will be urgent medical assistance, which Brucan says has been neglected in the past. The current situation is disastrous, said Brucan, in major as well as smaller hospitals.
The ministry will furthermore embark on amending legislation. An act on risk offsetting will be adopted, he said, to prevent the selective increase in health insurance premiums.
According to Brucan, a basis will also be created for supplementary payment for certain services, and efforts made to curb absenteeism.
Brucan hinted that the ministry would be tweaking the act on restricted tobacco use, and said that measures as drastic as a complete ban on smoking in public places are under consideration.
The ministry's other objectives include increasing the overall efficiency of the system, ensuring high-quality services, investing in health care management and promoting healthy living.
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