Web-economic-crisis-health-systems-and-health-web

Slovakia
Karol Morvay and Tomáš Szalay
Economic trends
• Slovakia's economy contracted in 2009, and in 2010 and 2011 returned
to growth rates below the European mean. Deficit levels relative to GDP
increased in 2009, although they were lower as government spending
relative to GDP declined in 2010 and 2011.
• Unemployment rates were above the European mean throughout the
2008 to 2011 period.
• While the size of government expenditure has reduced since 2009, the priority
for health spending remained stable from 2009 to 2011, slightly above the
European mean. This meant that public per capita health spending slowed in
2009 and declined in 2010 and 2011 by 0.4 and 1.5%, respectively. OOP
expenditure per capita also slowed in 2010 and 2011 (Slovakia: Figs 1 and 2).
Policy responses
Changes to public funding for the health system
• SHI revenue growth slowed from 12.5% in 2008 to an average of 3.3%
per year between 2009 and 2011.
• Government transfers to SHI on behalf of non-contributing people
rose from 4% of the average wage in 2005 to 4.9% in 2009 and were
gradually reduced to 4.25% in 2013; SHI contributions were extended
to dividends (2011).
• The government transferred €50 million from the state budget to SHI by
temporarily increasing the contribution rate for government employees from
4% to 4.33% (2012); the maximum assessment for SHI contributions
was increased three times, to five times the average wage, and SHI
contributions were extended to part-time contracts (2012).
Changes to health coverage
Population (entitlement)
• No response reported.
The benefits package
• No response reported.