WEBVTT

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First of all,
apologies for the delay,

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as the session
has lasted until now,

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and the first to present
the decisions taken at the session

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will be Foreign Minister
Tanja Fajon. Go ahead.

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Thank you very much. Welcome,
the media representatives.

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I am pleased to announce

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the Government of the Republic
of Slovenia has today adopted

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a new strategy on the foreign policy
of the Republic of Slovenia.

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The adoption of the strategy on the
first day of the Diplomatic Council

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is also symbolically
a very beautiful event,

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when Slovenian ambassadors
from all over the world gather.

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That's why I say
it has an important symbolism.

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Geopolitically challenging times
require us

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to re-set our foreign policy
orientations in a new way,

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more in the context
of the geopolitical situation,

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the challenges. So that this
foreign policy strategy reflects

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what is happening
in the world today.

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These are extremely
challenging times,

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and our common goal
is for Slovenia

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to speak with one voice
in the international arena,

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with a united
and clear message.

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The essence of this united voice
is a commitment to peace

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and a commitment
to diplomatic dialogue.

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The strategy also describes
the principles we have outlined:

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inclusiveness, responsibility,
security, solidarity and knowledge.

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It's a fundamental strategic
government document.

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We have coordinated it across
all government departments.

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So all ministries can identify
with this content too.

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At the same time, we have put
a different spin on the document.

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It's much shorter
than the existing strategy

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that has been in force so far.
15 pages.

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Modern, readable,
accessible to everyone,

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and an overarching guideline
for foreign policy action

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in the hope
of a much longer term.

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From this document will then emerge
those key active sub-strategies

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or implementing acts,

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where we will need to address
challenges much more quickly.

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Slovenia's attitude towards Russia,
towards the US,

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towards China,
towards the Middle East.

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And this will have
to start immediately.

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We're already working
on certain documents,

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and all these discussions,

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especially on points
that may be neuralgic, so to speak,

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will also go through
the National Assembly

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and will be binding
for the Government, the President,

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and all the actors in foreign policy
to speak together with one voice.

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This is the case for all
the relevant state institutions,

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not only the ministries,
but for the whole Government

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and all the actors
in foreign policy.

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It's also about a long-term,
much broader strategic view ahead,

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with main orientations
and priorities,

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also to a certain extent
anticipating trends

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and, of course,
taking into account

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the highly dynamic
international environment.

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The last strategy
was put forward in 2021.

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The process of writing
the document itself was important,

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and it was very inclusive
and interdisciplinary.

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Starting from really
in-depth expert arguments.

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The draft structure
was prepared

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by the Strategic Studies and Analyses
Service within the Ministry,

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including all the directorates
and sectors of the Ministry.

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The document is, as I said,
coordinated between the ministries.

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We have also discussed it at the
Strategic Council on Foreign Policy,

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which I chair and is made up
of eminent international experts

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in international relations
and foreign policy.

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The text is also in line with the
Declaration on the Foreign Policy

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of the Republic of Slovenia adopted
by the National Assembly in 2015

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and the Resolution
on the National Security Strategy

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of the Republic of Slovenia
from 2017.

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Last week, our Government
also adopted a proposal

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for a Declaration on the Guidelines
for the Republic of Slovenia's action

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over the next two years,

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and we will also have a debate
on this in the National Assembly,

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which approves this document.

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So, due to the fundamentally
different situation in the world,

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which is changing extremely rapidly,
is extremely complex,

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and the global crises ranging
from Covid-19 to migrations, war,

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Russian aggression in Ukraine,
Israeli aggression in Gaza,

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war conflicts
in the Middle East ...

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The strategy cannot cover
all these changes,

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even on a country-by-country basis,
when it comes to elections.

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Therefore, changes will have to be
addressed quickly through sub-acts.

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The strategy also focuses
on fundamental values

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based on international law,
humanitarian law,

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the United Nations
Charter of Human Rights,

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all the principles
of Slovenia's foreign policy action,

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and as such is free
of ideologically tinged orientations

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and interpretations
from the existing strategy.

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Last but not least,
a new strategy is also needed

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in order to rename the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs more correctly

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to the Ministry of Foreign
and European Affairs.

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The latter goes beyond
the field of foreign policy alone.

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With membership
of the European Union,

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it's an important part
of our internal affairs as well.

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Perhaps another
peculiarity of this strategy,

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because it's a really
modern document,

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following the example
of some countries.

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Today, strategy documents are
much shorter, much more focused,

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so we have ended it
with responses.

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Firstly, the actions
in the seven priority areas,

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which reflect the need
for interdisciplinarity,

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also mirror the principles,
reflect current efforts,

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which remain relevant.

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For the first time
in such a strategic document,

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we have a limited number
of objectives, seven,

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which also allows
for measurement, evaluation

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of what has been achieved
and also of concrete results.

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I'm quite sure that
at the end of this mandate

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we will be able to present
some of these in concrete terms.

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The strategy also confirms Slovenia's
positioning in a core Europe.

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It extends our foreign policy
priorities into the global space,

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in which Slovenia plays
a particularly active role

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in the United Nations Security
Council now and also next year.

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Thank you. -Are there any questions?
Perhaps Domen Anderle, STA? No.

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Okay. Thank you very much,
Minister, and good luck.

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Perhaps just that it was unanimously
adopted. -Yes, thank you.

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Next up is Luka Mesec,

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Minister of Labour,
Family and Social Affairs.

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And Equal Opportunities.
-Go ahead, Minister.

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Thank you very much
and welcome.

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I would like to present
three decisions from our portfolio

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that were discussed in the coalition
and in the Government.

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The first one is on the occasion
of Human Rights Day.

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At the beginning of December,
a debate was opened

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on the situation
of the erased in our country.

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As we know, the current law
and regulation is such

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that some people
have not been able

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to have their injustices redressed
and their citizenship restored.

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And for some,
this means a very tragic fate.

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Some time ago, Slovenia was shocked
by the news about one of them,

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Mr Zoran, who had lived
in Slovenia since 1978,

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and had been undocumented
since 1992.

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He lived next
to the Ljubljana bypass in a caravan

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which burnt down
with him in it.

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Unfortunately, the social services
could not help him

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because there was
no crisis accommodation for him.

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It's not just the case
of the erased.

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Last year,
or rather this spring,

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the tragic news broke
that 59-year-old Andrej from Kočevje

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was found lying
in his own excrement,

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and there was no crisis
accommodation for him either.

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We only have crisis accommodation
for minors. From now on ...

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Today, the Government
has discussed and agreed

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on a solution
in the Social Assistance Act

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that crisis accommodation should
also be arranged for the elderly

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who find themselves in situations
such as the two I've described

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and who, unfortunately,
cannot help themselves.

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The Social Assistance Act
will allow these people

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to be accommodated
in an elderly care home for 21 days,

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with the possibility
of an extension of 21 days,

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subject to an assessment
by the social services.

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During these 42 days,
the appropriate documentation

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and the appropriate basis
will be prepared,

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so that they can be
accommodated there permanently.

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This is an example of good practice
we established during the floods,

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and now we're extending it
to the most vulnerable

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and most at-risk people in Slovenia,
who find themselves in a situation

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where they can
no longer help themselves.

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That's the first thing.

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The second thing I would like to say
is that the Government has adopted

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an amendment
to the Labour Registers Act.

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As you know, the registers
have been stirring up spirits

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since last December,
when the amendment,

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which we drafted and coordinated
in social dialogue, came into force.

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It was one of the critical points
of the social dialogue,

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which broke down last summer.

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This year, however, it was a priority
for the Ministry of Labour.

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The Minister of Labour is,
by definition,

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the one who is in charge
of social dialogue.

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Of putting this dialogue
back on track

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and reopening and agreeing on
the things that were most pressing

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with the agreement
of the social partners.

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The social dialogue
was set up in July this year,

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and it has been
chaired by me since then.

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But the registers in the area
of work and working time

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have been
something of a test run,

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building trust
between the social partners.

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I am pleased to say that
this test run has been a success.

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Two weeks ago, on Friday,
at the Economic and Social Council,

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we unanimously approved
amendments to this act,

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which broadly set out
three things.

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Firstly, businesses will be
administratively relieved,

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because certain matters
can be managed on a weekly,

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rather than on a daily basis.
Secondly,

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it will no longer be necessary
to record lunch breaks.

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And thirdly,
managers will be exempted

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from the obligation
to keep working time records,

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because they
set their own working time.

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As I said, the social partners
were unanimous on these changes.

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Today, these amendments have also
been approved by the Government,

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and I think that with this
the social dialogue in Slovenia

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has passed a critical point

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and has a good chance
of being carried out

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in agreement
with the social partners.

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Other much more important and
bigger challenges are ahead of us,

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headed by the pension reform,
and the health reform.

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That's the second thing
I wanted to say.

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And, of course, the third thing
in the social dialogue

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is tax reform,
where, as you know,

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the Government or the coalition
is already discussing

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property tax that the Minister
of Finance will present on Monday.

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As a representative of Levica,
I absolutely welcome it.

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This has been one of the priorities
for us in this mandate,

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because it is the foundation on which
we can regulate the property market

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and the whole housing sector,

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which is affecting whole generations
that cannot access housing.

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The third thing
I want to say is this.

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We absolutely understand
the plight of pensioners.

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In recent years, because of the wrong
moves in previous pension reforms,

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some of them have retired with
a disgraceful accrual rate of 57%,

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which means they've retired
on just over a half of their salary.

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This is one of the injustices
we're correcting systemically

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with the pension reform.
I will be able to tell you more

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about exactly
how it will be regulated

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once we have
the social partners' agreement

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on the corrections
to the pension legislation.

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But I can say
that we will take much better care

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of future generations of pensioners
than we have of past generations.

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To current pensioners,

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I can offer something different
at this point.

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Namely ...

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We have managed
to keep inflation down this year.

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From 10%, which is
what it was just over a year ago,

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we brought it down
to just over 2%.

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Now, the estimates vary
whether it will be 2% or 2.3%.

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The first estimates of the pension
adjustment for next year ...

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Pensions are assessed
according to two indicators:

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the previous year's inflation
and the previous year's wage growth.

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The pension adjustment will be
higher than the inflation rate,

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at just over 4%.

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It's not much,

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but it's an indication

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that the material situation
of existing pensioners

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will, however,
improve somewhat next year.

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A little more
purchasing power,

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but above all,
prices are stabilising.

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And I think that, fortunately,
we've come to the end of the days

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when not only pensioners
but all of us

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went to the shop and got less
each time for the same amount.

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This has now ended.

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The welfare of all is,
of course,

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something that's in the Government's
greatest and broadest interest.

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Domen Anderle, STA, go ahead.
-Hello.

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First I have a few questions
about the act on the erased.

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Maybe to begin with,

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how many people are there
in Slovenia who, in fact,

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do not yet have
all these rights sorted out?

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We don't know exactly.

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The fact is, however, that with this
proposal that we've put forward,

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we're addressing
the most tragic cases,

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those who are living
without documents,

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those who are living
in a situation

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where they can
no longer help themselves.

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For them, we are arranging
crisis accommodation.

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Now we will finally have
a legal basis with this act

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so that we will also go into action
to find these people,

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to locate them and to offer them
appropriate assistance.

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So I will be able to tell you more
about this when we activate

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the social work centres
and others.

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From the point of view
of the Ministry of the Interior,

00:16:22.230 --> 00:16:26.618
no changes are necessary.
President of the Republic Pirc Musar

00:16:26.738 --> 00:16:31.384
thinks they are necessary.
Did you coordinate this act

00:16:31.640 --> 00:16:35.603
with both sides
and also with the erased?

00:16:35.788 --> 00:16:38.700
This act is coordinated
between the ministries,

00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:42.929
the President of the Republic
is also aware of it and supports it.

00:16:43.049 --> 00:16:45.403
However,
her act is much broader.

00:16:45.523 --> 00:16:49.152
To simplify a little,
the existing act on the erased

00:16:49.272 --> 00:16:53.569
provides that the erased
must declare themselves,

00:16:53.690 --> 00:16:56.095
must provide proof that
they've been erased

00:16:56.215 --> 00:16:58.271
in order to redress
the injustice.

00:16:58.391 --> 00:17:00.426
However,
the President is proposing that,

00:17:00.546 --> 00:17:03.997
in line with the register
of 25.000 erased,

00:17:04.117 --> 00:17:06.490
this would be
sorted out automatically.

00:17:06.610 --> 00:17:09.109
The Ministry of the Interior
is opposed to this,

00:17:09.229 --> 00:17:13.987
because we don't know whether
these people are in Slovenia or not,

00:17:14.107 --> 00:17:16.826
whether they even want this,
and so on.

00:17:16.946 --> 00:17:21.209
In short, what we want with the
act that we have discussed today,

00:17:21.329 --> 00:17:23.381
and will be completed
on Monday,

00:17:23.501 --> 00:17:26.379
as we're still making
some technical corrections,

00:17:26.499 --> 00:17:31.359
is to prevent these
really terrible human tragedies

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.823
that I described earlier,

00:17:34.036 --> 00:17:37.895
and to offer help
to those who need it most.

00:17:38.402 --> 00:17:41.138
We're not just talking
about the erased.

00:17:41.258 --> 00:17:43.808
We're talking
about Slovenian citizens,

00:17:43.928 --> 00:17:46.827
such as this gentleman
in Kočevje,

00:17:46.948 --> 00:17:50.803
who was found by the social services
practically in his own excrement,

00:17:50.923 --> 00:17:54.520
but we couldn't help him because
there was no suitable accommodation.

00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:56.471
We're now sorting that out.

00:17:56.591 --> 00:18:01.377
Perhaps regarding these crisis
accommodation in elderly care homes.

00:18:01.497 --> 00:18:04.827
They've been pointing out
that they have limited capacity,

00:18:04.947 --> 00:18:08.597
not enough staff.
Was this coordinated with them?

00:18:08.717 --> 00:18:13.694
Will they be able to accommodate
them? How many cases are there?

00:18:13.814 --> 00:18:16.411
Yes. The Ministry
of Solidarity-Based Future

00:18:16.531 --> 00:18:21.124
has also coordinated this with
the elderly care home community,

00:18:21.244 --> 00:18:23.823
so there's
no problem at this level.

00:18:23.943 --> 00:18:28.043
They're not very happy about
being given this additional task.

00:18:28.163 --> 00:18:30.725
But I think we're all
human beings first,

00:18:30.845 --> 00:18:36.187
and then officials
and public institutions employees.

00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:40.784
Thank you. There are
no more questions for the Minister.

00:18:40.904 --> 00:18:45.571
We will be joined by the Minister
of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel

00:18:45.691 --> 00:18:49.155
who will present some news
in the area of health,

00:18:49.275 --> 00:18:53.203
because this is a priority area
for this Government. Go ahead.

00:18:53.323 --> 00:18:54.923
Yes, thank you.

00:18:55.044 --> 00:18:58.503
At today's session,
the Government adopted

00:18:58.624 --> 00:19:01.412
an amendment
to the regulation.

00:19:01.798 --> 00:19:07.404
Our main regulation that
replaces the general agreement.

00:19:07.652 --> 00:19:10.466
It has brought
a number of new features.

00:19:10.586 --> 00:19:15.209
I might just highlight
the main ones,

00:19:15.330 --> 00:19:18.369
because otherwise
there are quite a lot of them.

00:19:18.489 --> 00:19:22.230
The whole aim of the regulation
was to continue to ensure

00:19:22.350 --> 00:19:27.549
access to health services,
integrity and quality of treatment.

00:19:28.761 --> 00:19:32.504
The first big thing
that the regulation brings,

00:19:32.624 --> 00:19:34.622
starting from 1 February 2025,

00:19:34.742 --> 00:19:37.074
is the reform
of the payment model

00:19:37.194 --> 00:19:40.526
for family medicine
and paediatric clinics.

00:19:40.646 --> 00:19:45.744
The main thing is that

00:19:45.865 --> 00:19:51.012
with better evaluated
patient quotas,

00:19:51.232 --> 00:19:58.048
from the limit for refusal
to an average quota,

00:19:58.169 --> 00:20:02.083
the new limits are
between 1348 and 1600,

00:20:02.396 --> 00:20:07.456
We wish to financially stimulate
healthcare staff as much as possible

00:20:07.577 --> 00:20:11.600
in order to register
more people.

00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:15.620
The decree also governs
additional clinics,

00:20:15.741 --> 00:20:19.930
which are replacing
clinics for unregistered patients

00:20:20.051 --> 00:20:23.393
and have exactly the same
standard and mode of operation

00:20:23.556 --> 00:20:27.639
as clinics for unregistered
patients currently do,

00:20:27.760 --> 00:20:32.466
whose validity will expire
at the end of this year

00:20:32.587 --> 00:20:36.468
with the expiration
of the intervention act.

00:20:37.181 --> 00:20:44.080
This revision of the payment model
also foresees additional services

00:20:44.201 --> 00:20:49.014
to address complex patients,
i.e. those with multiple diagnoses.

00:20:49.135 --> 00:20:52.853
This means that, because
the patient is more complex,

00:20:52.974 --> 00:20:55.153
this service is valued higher.

00:20:55.274 --> 00:21:00.004
We are allocating an additional
7.8 million euros for this measure.

00:21:00.125 --> 00:21:03.768
This includes the financial
stimulation of providers

00:21:03.889 --> 00:21:07.420
for the additional registration
of insured persons.

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:09.639
Tomorrow
we will be discussing

00:21:09.760 --> 00:21:14.333
an intervention act
in the National Assembly,

00:21:14.514 --> 00:21:20.726
which will extend the measure
from the intervention act

00:21:20.895 --> 00:21:24.562
that allows these funds
that we are providing

00:21:24.683 --> 00:21:31.499
to be allocated to individuals
in the healthcare team,

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:33.787
doctors,
registered nurses,

00:21:33.908 --> 00:21:37.553
practical nurses,
administrative workers, et cetera.

00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:42.794
This part
will remain unchanged,

00:21:42.966 --> 00:21:47.374
while the decree defines
the sources of these funds,

00:21:47.495 --> 00:21:50.412
which the
intervention act transfers

00:21:50.533 --> 00:21:56.120
from healthcare institutions
to individuals in the team.

00:21:58.353 --> 00:22:04.465
Another such novelty
are expert referral guidelines.

00:22:04.758 --> 00:22:09.075
The referral guidelines
were drafted by expert bodies,

00:22:09.242 --> 00:22:14.728
namely the extended professional
boards for physiotherapy

00:22:14.849 --> 00:22:20.041
and internal medicine specialties.

00:22:20.162 --> 00:22:25.035
These are referral guidelines.
In other words,

00:22:25.156 --> 00:22:29.146
the referral guidelines define
when a patient,

00:22:29.267 --> 00:22:31.912
with their diagnosis,
can be referred,

00:22:32.033 --> 00:22:34.407
according to various
urgency levels,

00:22:34.528 --> 00:22:37.042
regularly,
quickly and very quickly.

00:22:37.163 --> 00:22:40.913
What do we do with this?
What are the effects?

00:22:41.078 --> 00:22:44.441
So anyone who actually
needs the service sooner,

00:22:44.562 --> 00:22:48.229
will get access
to this service very quickly,

00:22:48.350 --> 00:22:54.073
because these guidelines
will enable triage for referrals

00:22:54.194 --> 00:22:57.444
according to
appropriate urgency levels.

00:22:57.565 --> 00:23:03.660
The referral structure has changed
significantly in recent years.

00:23:03.780 --> 00:23:06.643
Many referrals
were issued as very quick,

00:23:06.764 --> 00:23:09.347
now these guidelines
will ensure

00:23:09.537 --> 00:23:12.954
that waiting lists
at the very quick level

00:23:13.075 --> 00:23:16.300
will not fill up as quickly,

00:23:16.421 --> 00:23:19.421
but those
who really need the service

00:23:19.542 --> 00:23:22.144
will get access to it faster.

00:23:24.284 --> 00:23:29.760
I would also like to mention
a change in the field of radiology.

00:23:29.931 --> 00:23:33.600
We are lowering prices
of radiological examinations,

00:23:33.721 --> 00:23:35.496
meaning CT and MRI scans.

00:23:35.617 --> 00:23:39.976
On average, prices of MRI scans
are being lowered by about 20%

00:23:40.097 --> 00:23:42.692
and CT scans
by about 13%.

00:23:43.057 --> 00:23:45.769
We are also limiting payments.

00:23:45.890 --> 00:23:50.697
So far, these services were
paid for after their provision.

00:23:50.844 --> 00:23:56.594
We are now limiting the payment for
these services to concessionaires,

00:23:56.715 --> 00:23:59.290
while for public
healthcare institutions

00:23:59.457 --> 00:24:03.576
services will continue to be
paid for after their provision.

00:24:03.696 --> 00:24:08.504
We are also defining the number of
CT and MRI examinations per team.

00:24:08.625 --> 00:24:12.699
The planned scope of the programme
for CT and MRI examinations per team

00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:16.240
is the same for public institutions
and concessionaires,

00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:19.652
but for concessionaires
we are limiting payment

00:24:19.773 --> 00:24:22.219
to after
the provision of services.

00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:25.257
Why? As you know,
there is a problem

00:24:25.378 --> 00:24:31.897
with radiologists leaving the
public sector for the private one.

00:24:32.018 --> 00:24:37.609
They work at concessionaires,
mainly the prospective programme.

00:24:37.768 --> 00:24:40.579
We have had situations
in public institutions

00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:43.279
where there was
no radiologist available

00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:46.039
to provide
uninterrupted healthcare.

00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:51.493
For example, if a child came into
a public healthcare institution

00:24:51.614 --> 00:24:55.269
urgently requiring
an abdominal ultrasound

00:24:55.390 --> 00:24:57.890
and no radiologist
was present,

00:24:58.011 --> 00:25:01.594
it was impossible
to perform the ultrasound.

00:25:01.715 --> 00:25:04.820
Meanwhile,
in the prospective programme,

00:25:04.941 --> 00:25:07.774
such as knee
or shoulder MRI scans,

00:25:07.895 --> 00:25:10.553
we have no
unacceptable waiting times.

00:25:11.066 --> 00:25:15.816
Therefore, we aimed to ensure
that urgent medical services

00:25:15.937 --> 00:25:21.057
are available to people
when they need them.

00:25:23.237 --> 00:25:28.284
The decree is also
implementing other novelties.

00:25:28.857 --> 00:25:32.107
Unless there are
any specific questions,

00:25:32.228 --> 00:25:37.419
I would like to tell you about
the other things that were adopted.

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:40.330
The government
has approved co-financing

00:25:40.451 --> 00:25:43.737
for investments
in satellite emergency centres.

00:25:44.890 --> 00:25:49.600
This involves
15 satellite emergency centres

00:25:49.778 --> 00:25:55.880
whose locations
were previously determined

00:25:56.001 --> 00:26:00.957
based on unified criteria
established by medical experts.

00:26:01.826 --> 00:26:05.626
This investment
is worth 25 million euros,

00:26:05.747 --> 00:26:09.247
about half of it
is funded from the budget,

00:26:09.368 --> 00:26:13.457
and about half, 13 million euros,
from cohesion funds.

00:26:13.578 --> 00:26:15.774
The goal of it
is to strengthen

00:26:15.895 --> 00:26:19.778
the emergency medical care system
at the primary level

00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:24.189
in areas where services cannot
be provided due to remoteness.

00:26:24.310 --> 00:26:29.477
Within emergency centres, access
and quality are being improved

00:26:29.598 --> 00:26:34.843
because satellite emergency centres
are equipped with better equipment,

00:26:34.963 --> 00:26:37.849
allowing for a broader
range of services.

00:26:38.003 --> 00:26:40.526
This will standardise
the level of care

00:26:40.647 --> 00:26:44.137
provided by emergency
medical services across Slovenia.

00:26:44.303 --> 00:26:48.589
Satellite emergency centres
are categorised into three levels

00:26:48.710 --> 00:26:51.642
based on the
amount of equipment they have

00:26:51.763 --> 00:26:54.985
and the complexity of services
they will provide,

00:26:55.104 --> 00:26:56.769
so SEC 1, SEC 2, SEC 3.

00:26:56.890 --> 00:27:00.520
Consequently,
their funding levels also differ.

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.765
For SEC 1, the co-financing
amounts to 1.5 million euros,

00:27:04.886 --> 00:27:07.551
and there are
12 such centres.

00:27:07.943 --> 00:27:11.026
SEC 2,
located in Domžale and Velenje,

00:27:11.147 --> 00:27:15.230
will receive co-financing
of 2 million euros each.

00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:21.664
Finally, SEC 3, located in Kranj,
will be allocated 2.2 million.

00:27:21.785 --> 00:27:25.785
The total investment
amounts to 25 million euros.

00:27:28.016 --> 00:27:32.658
The government
has also adopted a decision

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:38.053
to support the development
of the Urbagen medication.

00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:41.544
A contract regarding this

00:27:41.665 --> 00:27:45.499
will be signed
with the foundation on Friday,

00:27:45.818 --> 00:27:51.338
followed by a payment next week,
so, within this calendar year.

00:27:51.459 --> 00:27:55.792
In accordance with
the procedure outlined in the law,

00:27:55.913 --> 00:28:00.830
the opinion of the Expanded
Professional Board of Pediatrics

00:28:00.951 --> 00:28:02.951
was obtained in advance.

00:28:03.143 --> 00:28:06.369
The funding amounts
to 1 million, right? -Yes.

00:28:06.596 --> 00:28:08.196
All right.
Domen.

00:28:11.196 --> 00:28:16.000
Let me start with
the satellite emergency centres.

00:28:16.121 --> 00:28:19.237
If I understood correctly,
you are funding

00:28:19.358 --> 00:28:23.230
facilities and equipment
for their establishment. -Yes.

00:28:23.351 --> 00:28:28.885
What are the differences
between SEC 1, 2 and 3?

00:28:30.683 --> 00:28:36.200
Will, for instance, some of them
have small laboratories?

00:28:37.412 --> 00:28:39.012
One moment.

00:28:42.073 --> 00:28:49.978
SEC 3 has the largest coverage
of additional services.

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:54.360
I have here the types
of diagnostics and treatment.

00:28:55.210 --> 00:29:02.912
So, laboratory, X-ray, minor
operations, observation, triage.

00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:08.635
I do not have here
the specific list of equipment

00:29:08.756 --> 00:29:12.736
that each SEC will receive,

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:18.651
but the criteria categorising
them into SEC 1, 2 and 3

00:29:18.772 --> 00:29:22.880
depend on their distance
from the emergency centre

00:29:23.110 --> 00:29:25.610
and the number of inhabitants.

00:29:26.202 --> 00:29:30.452
What is the timeline
for their construction to begin

00:29:30.573 --> 00:29:33.156
and for them
to start operating?

00:29:33.840 --> 00:29:41.712
Eligible costs must begin being
incurred from 1 January 2022 onward

00:29:41.833 --> 00:29:47.986
and the investment must conclude
by 31 December 2027 at the latest.

00:29:48.312 --> 00:29:53.812
The eligible costs covered include
construction and craftsman work,

00:29:54.109 --> 00:29:57.828
new buildings, reconstruction,
and general equipment,

00:29:57.949 --> 00:30:00.520
which is furniture,
computer equipment,

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:03.938
central oxygen distribution,
medical equipment,

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:07.760
resuscitation equipment,
portable ultrasound and monitors.

00:30:08.018 --> 00:30:11.040
Some
satellite emergency centres

00:30:11.202 --> 00:30:16.060
are farther along in being
established than others.

00:30:16.181 --> 00:30:20.911
If they are built, and staff
and vehicles are provided,

00:30:21.032 --> 00:30:28.200
can they begin operating earlier
or only on 1 January 2028?

00:30:29.260 --> 00:30:36.000
The SEC in Kočevje
is already operating.

00:30:36.237 --> 00:30:40.951
We also have co-financing funds
allocated per year.

00:30:41.886 --> 00:30:45.280
I do not have that table here,

00:30:45.401 --> 00:30:47.915
but the financial flow
was assessed

00:30:48.036 --> 00:30:51.602
based on realistic
construction capabilities.

00:30:51.723 --> 00:30:55.408
If they are completed earlier,
they can be used earlier.

00:30:55.529 --> 00:30:58.800
But work has to conclude
by the aforementioned date.

00:30:59.143 --> 00:31:01.445
I have a question regarding

00:31:01.566 --> 00:31:05.233
the lowering of prices
of radiology services.

00:31:05.354 --> 00:31:07.431
You said that concessionaires

00:31:07.552 --> 00:31:11.558
will no longer be paid
after their provision of services.

00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:18.880
How did you define the number of
services for each one individually?

00:31:19.001 --> 00:31:22.918
Do they know this?
Was it coordinated with them?

00:31:23.423 --> 00:31:27.506
It's not for individuals,
it's for standard teams.

00:31:27.909 --> 00:31:32.440
We defined it
based on real data.

00:31:32.561 --> 00:31:35.978
The Health Insurance
Institute of Slovenia

00:31:36.099 --> 00:31:39.266
collects data
on the services rendered.

00:31:39.387 --> 00:31:43.936
We used their data
from the last two years.

00:31:44.308 --> 00:31:49.320
Based on that, we defined
the number of services per team.

00:31:49.441 --> 00:31:54.411
The prices were set
by the Health Insurance Institute

00:31:54.951 --> 00:32:01.560
according to the methodology they
use for all healthcare services.

00:32:02.441 --> 00:32:05.524
The profits
of private concessionaires

00:32:05.645 --> 00:32:10.323
will be slightly reduced
due to the lowered prices.

00:32:10.444 --> 00:32:17.000
Are you expecting any radiologists
to return to public hospitals,

00:32:17.121 --> 00:32:18.721
UKC, for example?

00:32:19.927 --> 00:32:21.594
That is hard to say.

00:32:21.715 --> 00:32:29.167
Of course, prices affect revenue
and consequently the amount

00:32:29.288 --> 00:32:34.846
by which income exceeds expenditure
or vice versa, absolutely.

00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:40.852
Of course, we want to ensure
at least the minimum number

00:32:40.973 --> 00:32:44.338
of radiologists
in the public healthcare system

00:32:44.459 --> 00:32:47.752
required to provide
uninterrupted healthcare.

00:32:47.873 --> 00:32:51.529
We'll see how it goes.
We will be closely monitoring

00:32:51.650 --> 00:32:55.474
these measures and their effects
in the coming months.

00:32:55.747 --> 00:32:59.122
We did try to determine
the scope and the prices

00:32:59.243 --> 00:33:03.560
in a way that would not affect
accessibility in any way.

00:33:05.277 --> 00:33:07.777
The good news
is that currently

00:33:07.898 --> 00:33:13.215
no one is waiting unacceptably
for radiological examinations,

00:33:13.516 --> 00:33:17.528
so, we will be monitoring
the data on a monthy basis.

00:33:17.649 --> 00:33:21.649
We can change this decree
as we go, if necessary,

00:33:21.770 --> 00:33:24.825
so, we are actively
monitoring the measures.

00:33:24.945 --> 00:33:29.570
If I may, you provided an example
at the government session.

00:33:29.710 --> 00:33:31.580
I also repeated it here.

00:33:32.614 --> 00:33:36.200
So, you understand that
this will be better? -Yes.

00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:39.903
Higher remuneration
for emergency activities

00:33:40.024 --> 00:33:43.120
was also announced
with this decree.

00:33:43.296 --> 00:33:47.129
What are the reasons for this?
Why this change?

00:33:48.813 --> 00:33:53.412
We aimed
to categorise providers

00:33:53.872 --> 00:33:57.388
based on the nature
of their emergency activities.

00:33:57.509 --> 00:33:59.667
Emergency services
are provided

00:33:59.788 --> 00:34:02.509
only by public
healthcare institutions,

00:34:02.630 --> 00:34:04.710
while certain
other providers,

00:34:04.831 --> 00:34:08.144
as well as some
public healthcare institutions,

00:34:08.265 --> 00:34:10.422
do not have
an emergency centre

00:34:10.543 --> 00:34:13.477
but provide
continuous healthcare services

00:34:13.598 --> 00:34:17.958
solely for their own patients,
meaning those under their care.

00:34:18.140 --> 00:34:21.307
We also aim
to address this distinction

00:34:21.428 --> 00:34:23.678
in the Health Services Act,

00:34:23.799 --> 00:34:27.561
where we intend to appropriately
categorise providers

00:34:27.682 --> 00:34:31.564
into those who do not provide
continuous healthcare services,

00:34:31.684 --> 00:34:34.050
those who provide them
only for their own patients,

00:34:34.170 --> 00:34:37.319
and those who provide them
for both their own

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:40.629
and other patients
who come to the emergency centre.

00:34:40.749 --> 00:34:44.522
We therefore determined
with the Institution

00:34:44.643 --> 00:34:48.405
that the point
at the emergency clinic

00:34:48.526 --> 00:34:51.609
is set too low
for those most in need,

00:34:51.730 --> 00:34:55.880
which is why we appropriately
adjusted these calculations.

00:34:56.280 --> 00:35:00.462
The providers probably
also demanded that. -Absolutely.

00:35:00.583 --> 00:35:05.090
Will the additional funds make
a difference with the employees?

00:35:05.282 --> 00:35:08.699
For instance,
at the UKC emergency clinic,

00:35:08.820 --> 00:35:12.800
which is often very full
even at 3 a.m.?

00:35:13.013 --> 00:35:17.589
Higher income definitely also
provides better working conditions,

00:35:17.710 --> 00:35:21.543
both with equipment
as well as human resources.

00:35:22.650 --> 00:35:27.560
It is important that we try
to evaluate each healthcare service

00:35:27.681 --> 00:35:31.387
as realistically as possible
and fund it accordingly

00:35:31.507 --> 00:35:34.090
to prevent
any misallocation of funds

00:35:34.211 --> 00:35:36.289
or the
directing of activities

00:35:36.410 --> 00:35:40.070
towards services that are
over- or undercompensated.

00:35:40.190 --> 00:35:44.770
We aim for all
healthcare institutions

00:35:44.891 --> 00:35:48.128
to provide services
that people need.

00:35:48.249 --> 00:35:50.325
There can be no other motives

00:35:50.446 --> 00:35:54.088
for providing or directing services
than people's needs.

00:35:54.438 --> 00:35:57.153
That is why
we must assess each service

00:35:57.274 --> 00:36:01.133
as realistically as possible.
-Thank you. -My pleasure.

00:36:01.403 --> 00:36:04.067
Thank you, Minister,
have a nice day.

00:36:04.193 --> 00:36:08.480
Finally,
today the government has also

00:36:08.601 --> 00:36:10.684
signed a contract with STA.

00:36:10.805 --> 00:36:14.472
On behalf of the founder
and sole shareholder

00:36:14.593 --> 00:36:19.080
of the Slovenian Press Agency,
the government signed a contract

00:36:19.201 --> 00:36:23.090
for the provision of public service
by STA for the year 2025.

00:36:23.211 --> 00:36:25.036
The government authorised

00:36:25.157 --> 00:36:29.155
the Director of the Government
Communication Office, myself,

00:36:29.276 --> 00:36:31.282
to sign
and execute the contract.

00:36:31.403 --> 00:36:35.971
The value of the contract
is 447,091 euros higher

00:36:36.092 --> 00:36:40.675
compared to this year's,
representing an 18.6% increase.

00:36:41.183 --> 00:36:46.040
This increase will enable STA
to invest in information security,

00:36:46.161 --> 00:36:49.240
raise employee salaries
in line with inflation

00:36:49.361 --> 00:36:52.116
and salaries
in comparable media outlets,

00:36:52.331 --> 00:36:56.880
modernise equipment, and continue
developing digitalisation.

00:36:57.276 --> 00:37:00.359
The total amount
that STA will receive

00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:06.321
under the annual contract between
the founder and STA for 2025,

00:37:06.442 --> 00:37:11.626
is 2,844,091 euros.

00:37:12.160 --> 00:37:14.965
This fully aligns
with the business plan

00:37:15.086 --> 00:37:19.888
adopted by the supervisory board
and the Slovenian Press Agency Act.

00:37:20.009 --> 00:37:25.724
This government guarantees financial
indepedence and adequate funding,

00:37:25.929 --> 00:37:28.840
and, hopefully,
complete journalistic autonomy

00:37:28.961 --> 00:37:30.979
so STA
can operate unimpeded,

00:37:31.174 --> 00:37:34.920
unlike in previous years
under certain other governments.

00:37:35.188 --> 00:37:36.938
Any questions, Domen?

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:42.419
Thank you very much. This concludes
the press conference. Goodbye.