From 1 September 2026, a pilot verification of a new learning path for future general nurses, the so-called 1+4 model, is launched in Slovakia. The Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic is thus taking another concrete step in the implementation of the Human Resources Strategy in Health by 2040, which aims to prepare more qualified nurses while fully maintaining European quality standards of education.
Behind each sister is the story of a patient who needs help. Our responsibility is to do everything possible to ensure that there are enough of them in the future,The Minister for Health Kamil Šaško said after the sectoral tripartite. The model 1+4 is launched in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. It is the result of training, consultation with the European Commission and discussions with industry representatives within the sector tripartite framework. The future of Slovak health does not begin in the hospital – begins in education.
Slovak health as well as most European countries face one of the greatest personal challenges " ageing of the sister population and lack of new graduates. Thousands of retired sisters will need to be replaced in the coming years. The new model will offer young people a more attractive and efficient learning path to the profession of general nurse, while maintaining the same level of training and full compatibility with the requirements of the European Union.
The 1+4 model creates a new learning path without any reduction in the quality of education. After completing the 9th grade of primary school, pupils complete a separate 10th year of general education at the secondary school, which will be completed with a separate evidence of education. Subsequently, the general nurse will continue with a four-year professional study in the field of study. This model has been consulted by the European Commission and meets all the requirements of European legislation in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC. This will give graduates a qualification that is automatically recognised in all Member States of the European Union.

Six secondary health schools in Bratislava, Trnava, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Košice and Prešov have been involved in the pilot verification since the school year 2026/2027. The schools were selected to ensure a balanced regional coverage of Slovakia and at the same time have the necessary professional, personnel and material and technical capacity. All six schools contacted confirmed their interest in participating in the pilot verification and also declared interest from both pupils and their legal representatives.
Reform of health workers education is one of the strategic priorities of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic based on the Health Strategy until 2040. The aim of the reform is to ensure that patients in Slovakia and in the future have access to quality healthcare provided by a sufficient number of general nurses.