The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic decided on additional programmes for individual hospitals in the framework of the optimisation of the network of hospitals. This was preceded by dozens of meetings with individual hospitals requesting the approval of supplementary programmes. On the basis of data from health insurance companies and consultations with hospitals, a list of complementary programmes has been established to extend medical services in individual hospitals beyond the mandatory programmes approved in December 2022. The complete reform will bring patients higher quality, maximum waiting periods, better access to healthcare and, in particular, clarity of the hospital care system.
After their inclusion, hospitals announced that they would be interested in extending the mandatory scope of healthcare to supplementary programmes. In the previous three months, ministry analysts and other experts evaluated their requirements, negotiated with the management of almost all hospitals, and based on exact data created List of supplementary programmes for individual hospitals available here: https://www.health.gov.sk/?
When approving the additional programme profiles of individual hospitals, several conditions had to be met in order to guarantee the required quality of healthcare and patient safety. It was taken into account, for example:• whether the hospital provided healthcare in a given programme;

Even on the basis of these criteria, a majority of the additional programmes required were approved by each of the hospitals which applied for the approval of the supplementary programmes. In addition to better quality for patients, the distribution of hospitals into individual profiles with compulsory programmes and the approval of additional programmes also means greater certainty for hospitals. In fact, health insurance companies must contract all compulsory and supplementary programmes in individual hospitals. Patients will also have an overview of the extent of healthcare provided in each particular hospital, said State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Michal Palkovič.
A further fundamental change is also brought to patients by hospital optimization. These are the maximum waiting times for individual performances. If the health insurance company is unable to provide the patient with the necessary treatment in Slovak hospitals within the specified time, the patient will be entitled to treatment in another EU Member State, added Minister of State Lenka Dunajová Družkovská.
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State Secretary Michal Palkovič also agreed with representatives of self-governing regions that together with expert team visit those regions or hospitals from which the provision of specific healthcare is to be transferred to other hospitals. He also agreed on closer cooperation and regular meetings or strengthening communication towards patients. Decisions on supplementary programmes will be sent to hospitals in the coming days. Following today's meeting with representatives of the municipalities, a detailed justification will be given for each decision not to approve the supplementary programme.
The process of optimising the hospital network does not end with the publication of supplementary programmes. Hospitals will be able to apply for network changes every year. They may, for example, apply for additional supplementary programmes, or also for an increase or decrease in hospital levels. They may submit a request by 31 May this year.