The Ministry of Health is preparing the creation of a fund to pay for selected medicines. The Ministry also clearly defined its intention in the preliminary information published on the Slov-Lex portal on 1 July 2025. The aim of the government bill will be to define what medicines can be covered by the fund, under what conditions and in what period of time, as well as the legal status of the fund and how it is financed.
Negotiations on the fund at the Ministry of Health have lasted for several months and the intentions were also presented to the representatives of patient organisations during the round table (3 June 2025).
Since the onset of Minister Kamil Šaška, the health department has been considering several solutions. For the time being, it appears to be the best option being discussed with health insurance companies to use existing funds managed by the insurance companies themselves - the quality of health fund. These are defined in Law 581/2004 Z.z. and already to them health insurance companies are transferring funds beyond the statutory profit. The modification of the current rules is one of the topics discussed, on which the Ministry is working intensively and communicates with countries that already have funds established in the system. It is inspired by countries such as Great Britain, Italy or France.
Health quality funds would cover health insurance companies with a derogation outside the standard classification regime. Once the Fund's resources have been exhausted, the exemptions would apply from public health insurance under clearly defined rules to be determined in amendment 363/2011 Z.z., on which MZ SR works equally intensively with partners in the sector. This intention was also defined by the Ministry in the preliminary information published on the Slov-Lex portal on 1 July 2025. We are currently adopting proposals and suggestions, the deadline for completion is 15 July 2025.
At the same time, the Ministry presented a preliminary proposal to modify the criteria for exceptional medicinal products to the Association of the Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry (27 June 2025) and is now communicating it personally with health insurance companies.

In addition to the inexpensive medicines covered by the exemptions due to the fact that producers have left the Slovak market, the exceptions should apply in particular to medicinal products for patients with rare and serious diseases for which there is no other treatment option. The Ministry of Health also thinks of medicines for ultrarare diseases and medicines intended for children patients whose manufacturers do not apply for categorization in Slovakia due to the low number of patients. It is important to bear in mind that the exceptional regime must not replace the standard categorization of - to be supplemented in exceptional cases. At the same time, MZ SR is working on a proposal to allow health insurance companies to conclude a contract with the holders of therapeutic risk-sharing and to regularly review the real benefits of the medicine. In the amendment to Law 363/2011 The Z.z. will be presented with a proposal to change the procedure for the authorisation of medicinal products for derogation.