The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (Ombudsman) has been drawing attention to the issue of staff shortages in various health and social care institutions, such as retirement homes, health centres, and psychiatric and other hospitals, etc., for more than a decade. Based on the complaints received and field visits, the Ombudsman also believes that the situation in healthcare is particularly worrying, where, among other things, we are faced with a critical shortage of health and care personnel – doctors, nurses and medical technicians, paramedics, and other providers of health services or care. These are the personnel who also care for the most vulnerable groups of the population – children, the elderly and people with various disabilities – so it is essential to create a stable, safe and orderly working environment for them, in which they will be motivated to work.

The consequences of the staff shortages are already visible in longer waiting times for access to health services, and sometimes even in limited access to medical treatment. The Ombudsman institution is following with concern the developments at the Ljubljana emergency department, where long waiting times and inadequate treatment of patients are associated with a shortage of nurses and nursing staff. The Ombudsman assesses that despite numerous measures that have been taken to increase access to health services, the situation is alarming. Access to health services must be guaranteed to everyone at all times and must not depend, for example, on the goodwill of the service provider.

In the Ombudsman's opinion, it is essential to establish an effective dialogue and cooperation between the Ministry of Health, health service providers, and other stakeholders. The Ombudsman is already leading this dialogue and will continue and strengthen efforts to ensure adequate healthcare for the citizens of Slovenia within the framework of the institution's competence. The Ombudsman listens with equal concern to the providers in the field, who are issuing repeated calls for tenders in the hope of filling vacant positions. The scale of the problem is also keenly felt by numerous relatives who, due to a lack of capacity and health personnel, are forced to take on the care of family members, which puts many people in extremely difficult and stressful situations.

The Ombudsman therefore reiterates that the establishment of appropriate normative frameworks, decent working conditions, and adequate remuneration for the work performed is crucial, which is only possible with sustainable financing.

He adds that in Slovenia, which is a welfare state, we must not allow the current situation to become our new reality. The realisation of the constitutionally guaranteed right to health or healthcare for all residents of Slovenia is the foundation of the health of the entire society. This is not only about ensuring a sufficient number of healthcare professionals, but also about appropriate work organisation, education, remuneration, and a transparent salary system that enables appropriate and decent working conditions for all healthcare employees, whose work is of exceptional importance to the entire society. Until these issues are adequately resolved, it is difficult to expect an improvement in the situation.

The Ombudsman also made a number of recommendations to the Ministry of Health in the current annual report (Annual Report 2024) including the need to ensure a sufficient number of family doctors, equal access to outpatient clinics at the primary level, the establishment of appropriate capacities for rehabilitation after hospital treatment, and the reduction of waiting times. He also informed the Ministry of the findings of patient rights representatives, with whom he regularly meets and who also drew attention to the problem. The Ministry announced that it had established new models for financing outpatient clinics and provided financial incentives and additional outpatient clinics, but the Ombudsman warns that these measures have not yet eliminated the problems – some solutions have even exacerbated them or are contrary to the interests of patients (e.g. the loss of the chosen doctor due to exceeding the newly determined amount of the provider's capitation rates, the loss of the possibility of choosing the chosen doctor by establishing additional outpatient clinics, etc.).

With this public appeal, the Ombudsman wishes to once again draw attention to the importance of respecting the constitutional right to healthcare in the Republic of Slovenia. He calls on the authorities to implement his long-standing recommendations, which reflect the real hardships of the people who turn to him every day. Long-standing inaction, despite the Ombudsman's and many other warnings, means further deepening the problems of numerous individuals. The Ombudsman therefore appeals once again: immediate action is essential.