Prime Minister Golob: We remain committed to strengthening the public health system

In a press statement following the meeting, Prime Minister Golob expressed his deep respect for all the team members at the Ljubljana University Medical Centre and in the wider public health system for their dedicated work and patient care. "The story that has been presented to us today can be an inspiration to us all. It shows that when we all organise ourselves properly and are committed to a common goal – in this case the patient – we can achieve some of the best results in the world," said Prime Minister Golob.

He added that today's story also carries a very important message – if we want to create the best knowledge in the world, the public health system provides the best framework for us to do so. "Creating knowledge requires a critical mass of experts and a critical mass of time. University medical centres have all this, it simply does not exist outside the public system.  That is why we remain committed to strengthening the public health system, and we will continue on this path with one goal in mind – care for the patient."

He added that trust in the public health system in Slovenia is growing again. "I think this is a good foundation for us to build on so that we will all live together in a better and healthier society."  The Prime Minister also pointed out that Slovenia is at the very top in terms of heart transplants. He said that it is essential that we are aware of the importance of this achievement, as the heart transplant is one of the most demanding surgeries.

Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel said that the activity of organ donation and transplantation is something Slovenia can be truly proud of. "Not only because it is an extraordinary professional achievement, but because of all the collaborative effort behind it. It is based on excellent professional cooperation and joint efforts of many stakeholders – all hospital teams, surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, the Slovenia Transplant institute, all of whom work together and ensure that this system functions well," said Minister Prevolnik Rupel, thanking all those involved in the process. "However, the system could not work, or would not exist at all without organ donors and their relatives, who often donate or choose to donate their organs at the most difficult moments," added the Minister, expressing her special thanks to them. 

The General Manager of the Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Assist. Prof. Dr Marko Jug, emphasised that the achievements of Slovenian transplantation medicine are an exceptional milestone for Slovenian medicine and society as a whole. "500 heart transplants is a remarkable number and a remarkable impetus, which is only possible in a country where solidarity is one of the fundamental values," he stressed.

Assist. Prof. Dr Ivan Kneževič, Medical Director of the Division of Surgery and Head of the Transplantation Centre, stressed that transplantation medicine is an extremely complex activity, with the heart transplant programme alone involving more than 150 experts of different profiles. We are extremely proud of our heart transplant programme, which ranks us among the very best in the world. Since 2009, we have had the highest number of heart transplants per million inhabitants in the world 12 times. Our patients have an outstanding post-transplant survival rate and a very low waiting list mortality. This all demonstrates the high level of professionalism, organisation and excellence in medicine that our institution offers," said Dr Kneževič.

Slovenia was also among the world leaders in the number of heart transplants per million inhabitants in 2024. Another important achievement and a new milestone in transplantation medicine was the successful heart transplant in a 6-month-old baby.