At the end of 2022 the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic presented the first partial phase of the conditional classification of the hospital network. Hospitals are divided into five levels on the basis of exact criteria. Each has a precise definition of which programmes it must provide and meet the criteria. They will also be able to address other medical programmes once the changes have started in practice. They may request supplementary or optional programmes.
The primary objective of the hospital reform is for patients to know which hospital in their area will provide them with adequate care in good time and of adequate quality. The aim of hospital reform is not to disrupt functioning departments and hospitals. On the contrary, the reform will bring stability to the hospitals, and the temporarily appointed Minister of Health Vladimír Lengvarský said.
The first stage of the conditional classification of the hospital network brought about the division of facilities into different categories. Experts took into account the five exact conditions - the number of potential patients within the catchment area, the time availability of equipment, the fulfilment of minimum numbers of tasks, special staffing and the existence of compulsory programmes.
In addition to the compulsory programmes to be implemented by the hospital after being assigned to one of the levels, the offer of healthcare provided may be extended by additional and optional programmes. The list of supplementary programmes of interest to hospitals is published as an annex to the press release at the Ministry's website: https://health.gov.sk/Clanok?mzsr-presented-the-results-the-first-fazy-category-hospital.
In practice, once the supplementary programme has been approved, it will be possible, for example, for a level I hospital to provide a midwifery programme, an emergency medicine programme or other higher-level hospital programmes. All hospitals have shown an ambition to provide equipment programmes from a higher classification level. In the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Health will evaluate and approve the supplementary programmes once the legislative conditions have been met.
Breakdown of programmes in the categorisation:
Mandatory programme
- It is a programme that must be provided and implemented (at personnel, material and technical level as well as by the number of operations) by each hospital at the appropriate level.
Complementary programmes and optional programmes
- They expand the medical service portfolio provided by the hospital, enabling hospitals to specialise and develop in higher complexity.
- The hospital may apply for authorised supplementary programmes by the Ministry and decide to include them in the framework of the establishment of the hospital network if there is a sufficient need in the region after these medical services.
- By including a supplementary programme, the hospital must meet all the required criteria, e.g. number of operations, personnel capacity, technical equipment, etc.
- For voluntary programmes, their implementation is not evaluated.
Health insurance
- It has the obligation to contract all mandatory and complementary programmes in the network.
- Optional programmes may be provided by the hospital, but it may not be contracted by the health insurance company, depending on the negotiations between the hospital management and the insurance company.
Categorisation plans for the network of hospitals for 2023
- 3/2023 decision on complementary programmes
- 8/2023 update of the categorisation of the PSC
- 6/2023 network evaluation
- 8/2023 decision-making in case of network changes
- 10/2021 publication of changes to the list of categorised hospitals
- 11/2023 amended decree on the classification of institutional care
- 1/2024 Compliance
Since 2024, the classification of hospitals will be taken over by the Networking Commission, which will be composed of representatives of all relevant bodies. The Commission will periodically review the inclusion of healthcare facilities in the network every year. The law provides for an annual possibility to apply for a higher level if the relevant conditions are met.
