The provision of outpatient health care is governed by standard procedures and methodological guidelines of the main experts of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for individual medical expertise at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the light of all these recommendations, the patient should first contact his doctor by telephone. On the basis of sorting questions, the doctor will assess whether it is necessary for the patient to come to the clinic personally. If there is no respiratory problems and has not been in contact with a COVID-19 positive person, the examination may be performed. Each ambulance must be equipped with protective equipment and receive patients. However, patients must also be responsible; they must be protected by covering and disinfection. I stress that it is necessary and paramount for us to ensure that patients continue to be provided with affordable healthcare. In suspensive conditions, i.e. if the patient does not need an acute examination, it is optimal, given the current situation with COVID-19, to use telephone consultation with his doctor, stated Minister of Health Marek Krajčí. In the absence of urgent medical care, the Ministry of Health recommends rationalising medical clinics, mainly due to the increased risk of COVID-19 virus transmission. Through telemedicine, the physician will evaluate the severity of the patient's condition, consider the risk of treatment and, if possible, recommend telephone contact SMS or e-mail. In practice, telemedicine has proven to be an effective and useful element of public health protection. It is therefore also appropriate for doctors to use electronic prescription of prescriptions as much as possible in addition to telephone consultation. eHealth reduces the risk of transmission of new coronavirus infection, said M. Shorts. According to the National Health Information Centre, more than 115 million e-recipes have been prescribed so far, indicating that patients are using them. Patients in need of specialist examination do not need to visit their physician at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the exposure of the exchange ticket. The largest health insurance company - Všeobecná zdravotné poisťovňa (Všeobecná zdravotné poisťovňa) a.s. has issued a public promise that it guarantees the payment of specialised health care even without the general doctor's recommendation. Thanks to this step, patients do not currently have to have an exchange ticket if they need

specialized examination, for example in a cardiologist or gastroenterologist. VšZP, a. s., also included among the performances covered by public health insurance and the provision of health care in the form of medical consultation with the patient remotely. These are performances performed by the doctor via e-mail, telephone, web application and video call, including re-exposure of prescriptions for medicinal products or vouchers to medical devices and dietetic foods taken by the patient for more than three months. This exercise at the time of the pandemic includes crisis psychotherapeutic intervention through electronic communication. For more information, see: https://www.health.gov.sk/Clanok?Head-right-COVID-19