Slovakia remains one of the European countries investing the least in healthcare prevention, according to the 2024 Healthcare Readiness Index (HRI) released by Globsec. In 2023, Slovakia spent less than 16 cents per person per day on prevention — the fourth-lowest in the EU. The report warns that while public healthcare funding has increased, most of it has gone to salaries rather than preventive programs.
Slovakia also ranks among countries with the lowest vaccination rates, particularly against HPV and flu. Globsec experts say redirecting resources toward prevention, early diagnosis, and innovation is crucial to boost future resilience. The HRI assesses how prepared European countries are to face current and future healthcare challenges across more than 40 indicators.
Additional analysis by Globsec found that lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol and nicotine consumption, could significantly improve public health in Slovakia — a country with some of the greatest untapped potential in the EU. The report also highlights slow access to new medicines, with Slovak patients waiting on average 797 days after EU approval, compared to the European average of 578 days.
Source: TASR
