This paper examines the right to healthcare at primary level of health care, with an emphasis on the insured person’s right to freely choose a personal physician. The starting point is Article 51 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia, which requires the legislature to regulate the scope and financing of the right to healthcare from public funds. The first part of this paper presents the compulsory health insurance system and the organization of primary care.
The central research question is whether the current legal framework and organization of primary care ensure the effective realization of the right to freely choose a personal physician. Special attention is given to the importance of continuity of care, and the relationship between formal eligibility and the actual availability of providers. The study uses normative-dogmatic, descriptive, analytical, and synthetic methods, and an analysis of domestic and foreign professional literature.
The connection between the accessibility of primary care and the effectiveness of the entire health care system is emphasized. It was found that the right to choose a physician is formally regulated, but its actual implementation is limited due to a shortage of primary care physicians, uneven geographic distribution, high patient loads, and different accessibility of specific services. In practice, the choice is often narrowed down to any provider who is still available. Additional clinics, the involvement of residents, expanded health care teams, task shifting, and digitalisation can improve accessibility, but temporary measures cannot replace long-term continuity. It is important for the Ministry of Health, ZZZS and municipalities to work together to ensure adequate access to primary health care.
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