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Prime Minister Janez Janša: Internal reserves will also have to be sought in healthcare

In his address at today's ceremony celebrating the 110th anniversary of the founding of the Medical Chamber of Carniola, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia and the 20th anniversary of the restructured Medical Chamber of Slovenia, the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša, talked in particular about the medical profession and the current fiscal situation, which is also affecting healthcare.

 

In the Prime Minister's view, the medical profession is also an undertaking that involves great responsibility and moral commitment. "In fact, your profession will not tolerate any mistakes. If mistakes are made, they are often irreparable and their consequences fatal. The expectations of the users of your services are always very high, the conditions of your work often not the best, the financial resources at your disposal always insufficient, and the criticism of the public and media when an accident happens or a mistake is made is very harsh indeed. This could even be said to be on the increase," the Prime Minister observed. As appreciation for medical work is only rarely expressed, the Prime Minister thanked the doctors for the immense efforts they "put into ensuring the health and well-being of all the people in Slovenia."

 

The Prime Minister also underlined that we are living in times when the search for internal reserves is urgently required, including in the area of healthcare. "We are aware that the Slovenian healthcare system is overloaded in many places, but only less funding can be expected for the healthcare budget in the near future. We must therefore look for solutions aimed at searching for savings in public procurement, reduce the level of bureaucracy and thereby ease the burden on doctors and medical staff," the Prime Minister stressed, adding that the medical profession knows the situation in the healthcare system best, and invited medical service providers to shape healthcare policies and to participate in finding solutions to the current fiscal problems.

 

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the Medical Chamber of Slovenia is an important professional organisation whose mission includes protecting the reputation of the medical profession and maintaining the highest moral and ethical principles within the profession itself. He also stressed that doctors take care of the health and well-being of Slovenian people with their knowledge and experience, and at the same time contribute to domestic and international scientific achievements. "Today, when we are striving to revive the economy and identify new opportunities for Slovenia, this is particularly important but all too often forgotten," the Prime Minister concluded.