Projects / Programmes
Public Sector Reform: Healthcare in Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.04.02 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Public services |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S170 |
Social sciences |
Political and administrative sciences |
healthcare provision, system, providers, health insurannce companies, services, costs, economy, comparison, standards
Researchers (13)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
21744 |
PhD Janko Berlogar |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
92 |
| 2. |
03958 |
PhD Srečko Devjak |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
647 |
| 3. |
19328 |
MSc Tina Eržen |
Law |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
48 |
| 4. |
00032 |
PhD Janez Grad |
Computer intensive methods and applications |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
419 |
| 5. |
03639 |
PhD Štefan Ivanko |
Economics |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
897 |
| 6. |
01327 |
PhD Peter Jambrek |
Law |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
435 |
| 7. |
05297 |
PhD Tone Jerovšek |
Law |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
666 |
| 8. |
19293 |
PhD Maja Klun |
Economics |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
865 |
| 9. |
21651 |
PhD Primož Pevcin |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
646 |
| 10. |
11257 |
PhD Janko Seljak |
Economics |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
194 |
| 11. |
05020 |
PhD Stanka Setnikar-Cankar |
Economics |
Head |
2002 - 2003 |
588 |
| 12. |
02262 |
PhD Mirko Vintar |
Computer science and informatics |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
419 |
| 13. |
19295 |
PhD Stane Vlaj |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2002 - 2003 |
457 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In developed nations throughout the world healthcare systems are undergoing some level of transformation. The reasons behind this are similar all over, but all ends with financing that system. Slovenia is no exception in this. There are still greater problems - certain hardened principles, especially that associated with social rights and the material capabilities of society - all that make it difficult to finance the desired healthcare system. State and private funds reach up to 8 percent of GDP, but the absolute amount is one of the lowest when compared to countries in the EU. Some new views on and approaches to gaining and use of financial sources for healthcare are obviously needed.Up to now Slovenian Institute for Health Insurance (ZZZS), together with some other providers and with the help of private funds, have suceeded to manage and balance the needs and capabilities. Nevertheless, difficulties are expected, and beside that a situation brings dissatifaction in all institutions of the system. More and more of them experience liquidity problems and ever greater losses. They find a number of reasons for such a situation. The greater part of material costs (medicines, various fixed costs, labour costs, etc.) can be controlled by them to a limited degree because they are presented with them as a fact. This is is an excuse and a real fact at the same time.While standards for primary (basic) and specialist dispensary helthcare at secondary level are more or less clearly defined, that does not stand for the hospital provision, although the costs for the latter represent the biggest item for the Institute's and other resources. But the content of work and costs associated with individual services in hospital provision are still not standardised. The providers and the users of (limited) sources want and need changes (i.e. standards) but at the same time they are not able or prepared to empirically check their results, as they may be unfavourable to some.The research project, presented here is carried out on the basis of the starting points we have described. Its central part should be of an applicative and comparative research nature orientated towards content and costs of individual services in different health institutes. The project is a pilot one and limited to the secondary level of helthcare provision (four hospitals and one departement of each). With respect to the fact hospitals do not have universal standards (staff, material, diagnostics, space, etc.) for the same services, we expect comparison of data to show differences in their content (also their costs). If this is the case then this is a suitable basis:- for an analysis of individual services and the causes for differences in individual hospital approach and for possible rationalisation that does not go against the profession,- for establishing the correctness of demands from their financer,- for encouraging the adoption of universal standards.We try to verify our thesis against collected and compared data obtained from selected hospitals. The subject of research is gynaecological-maternity services and their costs in each hospital. We have determined a time for collecting data (diagnostic procedures, interventions, material staff, other costs) and the method of selecting services for comparison. The directors, heads of departements and financial services have already been consulted and they already work on collecting data. Proper instructions have been given for the collecting to be comparable and relevant. Analyses should follow shown (expected) differences and proposals for rationalisation or standardisation of service content. Regardless of the pilot nature of the project, its applicative elements, including conclusions and proposals might be important and used as an important basis for encouraging and final adoption of universal standards. We offer feedback to participants in the project and transparency, which is good for both provider and payer.
