Privatization of health care in Slovenia.

This article analyzes the results of the hitherto privatization of health care in Slovenia based on statistical indices and public opinion data. The new legislation offered much more room for quasiprivatization than for real privatization. A greater room was left for privatization of financing than for the status of health care providers and infrastructure. The statistical data on private practitioners and the share of private resources in health care costs show that the privatization is relatively slow but irreversible process. Public opinion data revealed that the population of Slovenia accepted this process but some signs of distrust in private practice and new forms of health insurance were noticed. The new legislation leaves a high degree of regulation to the state in protecting citizens' rights but there are some risks of unrestrained development of the market due to insufficient implementation of legislation.