AmCham Slovakia

 One of the most striking moments of our Healthcare in Transformation: Care–Data–Costs conference came from the data-driven presentation by Henrieta Tulejova. Her message was clear: population ageing is not a future challenge, it is already shaping Slovakia’s healthcare system today.

Several key insights stood out:

• A growing financing gap - Based on current projections, healthcare expenditures in Slovakia will continue to grow faster than system revenues. By 2040, the system may face a resource gap of 15%, roughly €350 per citizen.
• One of Europe’s fastest aging populations - Demographic trends are rapidly changing the structure of Slovak society, increasing demand for healthcare while reducing the number of economically active contributors.
• Out-of-pocket payments - Patients are already paying for outpatient care through various unofficial fees, averaging around €20 per visit. At the same time, 30% of Slovaks postpone a doctor’s visit because of these costs, while the EU average is only a few percent.
• Efficiency as a moral imperative - Improving efficiency through better organization of care, hospital network optimization, and reducing avoidable mortality could help cover roughly one third of the future financing gap.
• Innovation requires intentionality - Meaningful change will require clear strategy, stability in policymaking, and the courage to implement reforms, including smarter financing models and stronger focus on prevention.

The presentation reinforced a central message of the conference: health policy is also economic policy. A healthier population means higher productivity, stronger labor market participation, and better long-term competitiveness. Thank you to Henrieta Tulejova for bringing such an important evidence-based perspective to the discussion.