The Minister for Health has declared THE YEAR PREVENTION

MZ SR strengthens prevention, screening and care of cancer patients
Minister of Health of SR Kamil Chess today on the occasion of World Cancer Day announced Year 2026. It is this area that the department under its leadership considers to be key, so it takes systematic steps to strengthen preventive programmes, early detection of cancer diseases and improved healthcare.
–We can see in the ministry that prevention is the key. For example, in breast cancer we only have about 30% of screening in Slovakia, which is one of the lowest in the whole Union. It's even less so when screening colon cancer, and one in five men doesn't go to preventive urological examinations. In doing so, early diagnostics save lives. Our aim is not only to bring modern diagnostics, but also treatments and advanced medicines to all regions, so that it does not matter where you live. said Health Minister Kamil Šaško.
MZ SR established in January 2026 National screening centrem, which will strengthen the management and organisation of national screening programmes. It is financed from the Program Slovakia. The Centre will set up invitation conditions for screening, screening tests and their intervals, evaluate results, target population management or awareness and communication towards the public. Its activities will also include quality control of providers, data collection and evaluation, training of professionals and preparation of legislative adjustments.
From 1 July 2025 Amendment No 577/2004 entered into force Z. z. which introduces organised screening. It aims at inviting insured persons more effectively to preventive examinations and increasing population participation in screening programmes. Increased participation significantly increases the chance to capture cancer in time, even at an unsymptomed stage. The proposals for decrees that regulate the details of the implementation of cancer screenings, as well as the requirements for workplaces and healthcare professionals involved in screening, are currently in the process of evaluating the comments procedure.

The prevention must not be an empty word. We are working at the ministry to ensure that the patient's journey is smooth and that innovative treatment is not just a privilege for large cities. We support a network of certified workplaces where women get help at European level, no matter where they come from, says Kamil Shaško.
In 2025 We are extend the network of verified mammographic workplaces from 26 to 33 workplaces. These workplaces provide high-quality digital mammography with minimal radiation stress, evaluated by double reading. It also includes a mandatory statistical evaluation of the results, which ensures feedback and a high standard of care provided.
Ministry of Health continues preparation of amendments to the Law on the extent and conditions of reimbursement of medicinal products in cooperation with patient organisations. A number of oncology diagnoses have been categorised over the past year, including metastatic breast cancer, multiple myeloma, cervical cancer, lung cancer, prostate, leukaemia, or metastatic colorectal cancer.
MZ SR is also preparing measures to improve the availability and reimbursement of breast epitheses and medical devices for patients after mastectomy. After a new one, they'll have patients post-operative epitheses available during hospitalization. At the same time, the Health Department is working to ensure the automatic availability of genomic tests for women with breast cancer to help determine whether chemotherapy benefits them.
Clinical oncology is one of the expertise included in the second phase of the pilot operation of the new list of health performances to be launched in April 2026.