We care that patients in every corner of Slovakia have access to healthcare. Strengthening the outpatient sector is therefore an issue that the Ministry of Health is intensively addressing and integrated healthcare centres can also make a significant contribution to improving this segment.The aim of the Ministry of Health is to create an optimal basis for providing primary health care in the regions. In order to make integrated healthcare centres more accessible, what patients will particularly feel. So to speak, under one roof they will find not only a general physician but also specialists and will not have to travel to more distant places. At the same time, doctors and other health professionals will gain better working conditions, informed Minister for Health Marek Krajčí. In early October, the Ministry of Health published a call for applications for a financial contribution to the building of integrated healthcare centres. The challenge is to support health infrastructure in less developed regions with significant local impact. These are places where access to health care is poor and also concerns projects implementing the State aid scheme implemented in and around the district towns. EUR 20 million from the European Regional Development Fund is allocated to this challenge. The amount of the contribution per project depends on the type of project concerned. The maximum amount of contribution for projects with local impact is EUR 700 thousand and for projects where state aid rules apply, it is 900 thousand. the European Regional Development Fund. The main objective - i.e. the provision of primary health care in one place - is also highlighted by the very title of the call: "Integration of primary health care through the establishment of integrated healthcare centres'. The call shall be open and applicants may submit the project within two deadlines by 15 January 2021 or 15 February 2021. The call is implemented within the framework of the Integrated Regional Operational Programme, and more detailed information is published on http://www.mpsr.sk/index.php?navid=376. As far as integrated healthcare centres are concerned, three challenges have already been announced and 48 projects are currently being implemented in several locations in Slovakia, in the amount of 37.6 mills Euro. New Centres to Be Created

So far in 19 cities and 27 municipalities. Once the centres are gradually operational, the overall management of patients will be significantly improved. Personal visits to doctors at home will also be fully operational in practice, patients will not have to travel to distant specialists and a reduction in hospital admissions can also be expected.