The insured persons are currently able to undergo free preventive examinations by a general doctor for children and adolescents, a general medical practitioner for adults, a dentist, a gynecologist and an obstetrician, a urologist or a gastroenterologist.
However, according to the GMP data, only less than 40% of the adult population will undergo a preventive examination at the general physician. This figure is not enough to reduce the incidence of so-called avoidable deaths in Slovakia.Indeed, a preventive search can save lives, since many diseases begin in subtle ways. No subjective problems are perceived, but already in this period, such as high pressure or elevated sugar levels, can cause irreversible changes in blood vessels and cause heart attack or stroke. People should in no way forget prevention, have it available free of charge, in public health insurance,says Minister for Health Andrea Kalavská.
More Women Think of Prevention Than Men
According to general practitioners, a part of the patients undergo a preventive review every two years and require even more frequent inspections than permitted by law. Statistics show that women are more disciplined in preventive examinations. A preventive examination of general doctors is carried out annually by about a third of insured persons in Slovakia, with women participating in prevention more than men. People over 60 are the most frequently visited preventive examinations by general doctors.
10 most common diagnoses that may reveal a preventive examination:
- Diabetes
- anaemia
- high blood pressure
- overweight and obesity
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- inflammation in the urinary tract
- heart rhythm disorder
- cholesterol increased
- colon cancer
For an overview of healthcare providers by residence see:
Brief overview of selected preventive examinations
Preventive care for children and adolescents:
performed by a general practitioner for children and adolescents
- nine child preventive examinations up to 1 year, of which at least three preventive examinations Up to three months old
- 15 Ά monthly child 1 preventive inspection
- children 3 to 18 years One preventive survey every two years
- is comprehensive paediatric examination, including advice to parents
- physician monitors the complex psychomotor development of the child, risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, compulsory vaccinations, blood pressure or urine tests
- 11 years the child's blood cholesterol level is measured
- 17 years Child blood levels of triglycerides
Preventive adult care:
performed by a general medical practitioner for adults
- 1 preventive inspection every 2 years
- yearly blood donors
- Health review and possible risks
- complex examination, control of vaccination status, pulse and blood pressure test, weight control
- laboratory tests of urine and blood (sedimentation of blood, blood count, sugar, kidney function test and liver test)
- emphasis on detection Civilization disease risks
- insured persons over 40 years of age, examination of cholesterol and triglycerides and ECG record of heart activity
- insured persons over 50 years of age and insured persons with a positive family history of colon and rectum cancer every 2 years - occult bleeding test (positive result - colonoscopy examination)
Preventive gynaecological survey
- Women aged 18 or over or the first pregnancy are entitled to 1 preventive survey per year
- in maternity - Preventive care every month during pregnancy and once 6 weeks after delivery
- complex gynaecological examination focused on early diagnosis of organic and functional disorders of female genital organs
- include:
- cervical cancer screening Women aged 23 – 64
- breast cancer screening - Women aged 45 – 75
- breast ultrasonography - every two years Since 1.7.225 ultrasonography of the breast is removed from the preventive examination.
Preventive examination by a dentist
- insured person Up to 18 years
- insured person over 18 years Þ once a year
- pregnant women twice for the same pregnancy Early 1st and 3rd trimesters
- detailed examination of the cartilage, periodont, soft tissues of the oral cavity, control of inter-artificial relations and dental status, inspection of dental replacements, dental hygiene and hygiene habits, palpation of nodules
- in children and remineralisation of dental enamel
Urological preventive examination
- Men over 50 years " every 3 years
- or men from the age of 40 years if prostate cancer occurred every 3 years or more frequently in their first-stage kinship
- prostate examination through the anus, testicular examination, ultrasound examination of the urinary tract and kidneys, blood sampling for the prevention of prostate cancer
Preventive gastroenterological examination
- insured persons over 50 years old:
- occult bleeding test - every 2 years (positive result followed by colonoscopy examination)
- or colonoscopic examination - once per 10
- insured persons with a positive family history of colon and rectum cancer even before the age of 50 years
- In the negative of the first preventive colonoscopic examination of the rectum and colon in insured persons at increased risk for colon and rectum cancer, another preventive colonoscopic examination of the rectum and colon is performed every five years in the periodicity
For details on the frequency and content of preventive examinations, see Annex 2 to Law No 577/2004 Z.z. on the scope of health care paid on the basis of public health insurance and reimbursements for healthcare services HERE