AGP Executive Report

Healthcare Access in Focus: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the priority is cutting specialist waiting times by activating all available capacities, with broader reorganisation and digitalisation of the sector. Policy Oversight: The Human Rights Ombudsman reports the government and the Environment and Energy Ministry interfered with the independence of the Energy Agency over electricity network charges—an issue tied to a “healthy living environment” and fairness. Waiting Times Across Europe: An OECD-based report highlights how long patients wait for care in Europe, including Slovenia’s near two-year wait for hip replacement, warning that delays can worsen outcomes. Rural Health Tech: Slovenian startup HeroLabs won Startup of the Year 2026 for MooHero, a smart cow collar that tracks health and heat cycles to help farmers spot problems earlier and improve breeding and milk production. Public Health & Safety: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked a rescue after climbing an electrical post and walking along power cables; he had been treated at a local hospital before authorities coordinated next steps. Health Tech Trust: A disinformation watchdog says major AI chatbots can repeat pro-Russian false claims as fact, raising concerns about misinformation in health-adjacent information searches.

Healthcare Access & Waiting Times: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the incoming government should activate all available capacities, expand primary care, and push broader reorganisation and digitalisation to cut patient waiting times. Health System Reform Pressure: Dnevnik warns the next health minister may face an “impossible task” as much of the outgoing government’s health reform could be undone, leaving the system in flux. Public Health & Safety in Prisons: A Europe-wide prison overcrowding crisis is worsening, with Belgium reporting prisons running far above capacity and detainees facing poor conditions linked to outbreaks like scabies and bed bugs. Medicines Access in Greece: Greece is still struggling with delayed access to new medicines, with only a fraction reaching patients—described as a legacy of earlier healthcare cuts. Local Health Education: A new pharmacy school is planned for Ljubljana, signaling investment in training more healthcare professionals. Health & Policy Watch: EU Commission targets delayed transposition of consumer, health, and worker-safety rules, raising pressure for faster implementation.

Healthcare Access & Waiting Times: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the priority is cutting patient waiting times by activating all available capacities, with broader reorganisation and digitalisation plus a stronger primary care network. Health System Politics: Dnevnik warns the outgoing government’s health reform may be largely undone by the incoming team, leaving the next minister with a tough, “impossible” task. Medical Business Accountability: Ljubljana District Court found former owner of medical supplier Emporio Medical, Urška Jurkovič, guilty of defrauding creditors in a retrial and sentenced her to one year and ten months. Public Health & Safety: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked an emergency after climbing an electrical post and walking on power cables; he was previously treated at a city-run hospital while authorities coordinated his status. Workforce & Pay Policy: Interior and public administration minister candidate Franci Matoz announced separate wage systems for police, military, healthcare, education and culture, and called for restructuring the Criminal Police Administration.

EU Health & Consumer Rules: The European Commission has launched infringement steps against 20 EU countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing a directive aimed at empowering consumers for the green transition—covering clearer sustainability labels and tackling greenwashing. Slovenia Health System: Slovenia’s new government lineup is taking shape, with the Democrats naming Tadej Ostrc as health minister candidate as coalition parties confirm ministerial posts. Local Health Education: A new pharmacy school is set to be built in Ljubljana, adding to the pipeline of future healthcare professionals. Public Health & Loneliness: A new report highlights how loneliness can affect memory, raising fresh questions about mental health support and healthy social connections. Healthcare Access Abroad: Greece continues to face delays in new medicines reaching patients, with crisis-era cuts still shaping access. Drug Safety Watch: India’s major Captagon seizure underscores how synthetic drugs tied to conflict economies are evolving into wider trafficking networks.

Court Case in Healthcare: A Ljubljana District Court found former owner of medical supplier Emporio Medical, Urška Jurkovič, guilty of defrauding creditors in a retrial, sentencing her to 1 year and 10 months; she lives in the US and has not yet been served the verdict. EU Health & Consumer Rules: The European Commission opened infringement procedures against 20 EU member states, including Slovenia, for failing to fully transpose a directive on empowering consumers for the green transition—aimed at tackling unreliable green claims and sustainability labels. Public Health & Safety Oversight: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with occupational safety and health accounting for 9,600 violations. New Medical Training in Ljubljana: A new pharmacy school is set to be built in Ljubljana, adding to local healthcare education capacity. Health-Linked Risk in the News: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked a rescue after climbing an electrical post and walking along power cables, with authorities coordinating custody and medical care. Wellness & Memory: A report highlights how loneliness may hurt memory, even if it doesn’t work the way many people assume.

New Medicines Access: Greece’s “Patients W.A.I.T.” data show only about 1 in 5 innovative medicines are fully reachable for patients, with long waits and growing reluctance from pharma to launch in the market. EU Enforcement: The European Commission has opened infringement steps against 20 EU countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing EU rules on empowering consumers for the green transition. Slovenia Health Policy: Slovenia’s incoming government lineup includes a named health minister candidate (Tadej Ostrc), with parliamentary hearings expected in early June. Workplace Safety: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with most issues in construction and occupational safety and health. Public Health & Tobacco: A European report highlights how tobacco remains too affordable in parts of Europe, warning that price pressure may not be strong enough to protect teenagers and young adults. Heat & Health Risks: Europe’s early-season heatwave is described as record-breaking, raising concerns for heat-related illness and stressing the need for preparedness.

New Medicines Access: Greece is lagging badly on innovative drugs, with only 69 of 168 EMA-approved medicines reaching the market (and just 36 fully reimbursed), leaving many patients facing long waits or restrictive access. EU Consumer & Health Rules: The European Commission has launched infringement steps against 20 EU countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition—aimed at cutting greenwashing and improving label reliability. Slovenia Health Policy: Slovenia’s incoming government lineup includes a named health minister candidate (Tadej Ostrc), as coalition parties confirm ministerial posts ahead of parliamentary hearings. Workplace Safety: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with most issues in construction and occupational safety/health. Public Health Debate: Slovenia’s planned waste-to-energy plants are sparking a split—supporters call them essential for waste management, while opponents warn of health and environmental risks. Rare Disease Advocacy: Patients with rare diseases in Ireland are pushing for budget funding and faster access to new drugs, citing urgent declines and fears of losing loved ones.

Health Workforce & Education: Slovenia’s Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy is getting a major €100 million new building at Brdo Campus, aiming to expand training capacity to about 2,000 students and 250 staff by 2030. Public Health & Aging: A large European study of 10,000+ older adults links loneliness with worse memory test scores at the start, but finds loneliness doesn’t speed up memory decline over time—supporting the idea of loneliness screening in cognitive care. Medicines Access: Greece’s access to innovative medicines remains poor, with only about one in five new drugs fully accessible via reimbursement and long waits still common, as companies increasingly hesitate to launch in the country. EU Health Rules: The European Commission has opened infringement steps against Slovenia and other EU states for not fully transposing consumer, health and worker-safety rules, including the green-claims directive. Climate & Health Risk: Europe’s early-season heatwave—driven by a persistent heat dome—broke records across whole numbers, raising concerns for heat-related health impacts. Workplace Safety: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with most issues in construction. Rare Disease Care: Patients with rare diseases in Ireland are pushing for budget lines and faster access to new drugs, arguing current reimbursement and early-access pathways aren’t enough.

New Medicines Access: Greece is still lagging badly on innovative drug availability, with only about 1 in 5 new medicines fully accessible via reimbursement and long waits continuing to block patients. Public Health & Policy: The EU has launched infringement steps against 20 countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing consumer, health and worker-safety rules—aimed at tighter compliance and fewer gaps in protection. Slovenia Health Education: The foundation stone was laid for a new Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy building at Brdo Campus, a €100m project expected to boost training capacity and modern labs for the growing pharma workforce. Loneliness & Brain Health: A large European study links loneliness with worse memory test scores in older adults, but suggests it doesn’t speed up memory decline over time—supporting the case for loneliness screening in care. Heat Risk: Europe’s unusually early, record-smashing May heatwave is highlighted as a warning sign of faster regional warming and rising health risks from extreme temperatures. Workplace Safety: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with most issues tied to construction and occupational safety. Rare Disease Care: Families of rare-disease patients are calling for faster access to new drugs and expanded early access programmes, warning that delays can be life-limiting. Tobacco Control: A European report flags ongoing affordability concerns for cigarettes and nicotine, warning that price pressure may be weakening anti-smoking impact for young people. Clean Heat Transition: The EU selected industrial heat projects for support, including a Slovenia pharma site, to cut natural-gas-based heat with decarbonised alternatives.

New Pharmacy Faculty in Ljubljana: The foundation stone was laid for the Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy at Brdo Campus, a €100 million project expected to be finished by 2030, with capacity for about 2,000 students and 250 staff and modern labs to support Slovenia’s growing pharma workforce. Healthcare Access & GP Changes: Social Democrats filed changes to healthcare legislation to make it easier for patients to get a new named general practitioner after losing their previous one, aiming to reduce gaps in primary care. Labour & Safety Enforcement: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations found in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with most issues in construction and occupational safety and health. Loneliness and Memory: A large European study following 10,217 adults aged 65–94 found loneliness is linked to worse memory at the start, but does not appear to speed up memory decline over time, supporting the case for loneliness screening. Clean Heat Funding (EU): The EU selected industrial heat projects under the Innovation Fund Heat Auction, including Slovenia’s Lek Pharmaceuticals site in Mengeš, backing decarbonised heat to cut fossil fuel use. Tobacco Policy Pressure: A broader European debate continues as countries face challenges keeping cigarettes expensive enough to protect young people, with affordability concerns highlighted in recent reporting. Rare Disease Medicines (Global): Patients and families called for faster access to new drugs and better reimbursement pathways, underscoring how delays can be life-changing.

EU Health & Consumer Rules: The European Commission has opened infringement steps against 20 EU countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing delayed rules on empowering consumers for the green transition—raising the risk of greenwashing and unclear sustainability labels. Slovenia Health Workforce: Democrats in Slovenia have proposed changes to healthcare legislation to make it easier for patients to get a new named general practitioner after losing the previous one. Labour & Safety: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with occupational safety and health making up a large share—construction topped the list. Pharmacy Education Boost: Ground was broken for a new Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy building at Brdo Campus, a €100m project expected to be finished by 2030 and expand capacity to about 2,000 students. Rare Disease Access: A public debate in Ireland highlighted how families of rare-disease patients are pushing for faster access to new medicines, including dedicated budget funding and expanded early access programs. Loneliness & Brain Health: A large European study found loneliness is linked to worse memory in older adults, but it doesn’t seem to speed up memory decline over time. Clean Heat for Health-Adjacent Industry: The EU selected Slovenia-linked projects for industrial clean heat funding under the Innovation Fund Heat Auction, supporting decarbonised heat production that also affects air quality and health.

Labour & Safety Watch: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reports 18,200 violations found in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with occupational safety and health and labour relations both heavily represented, and construction among the biggest hotspots. Health Workforce Access: Social Democrats propose changes to healthcare rules to make it easier for patients to get a new named general practitioner after losing the previous one. Pharmacy Education Boost: The Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy starts a €100m new building at Brdo Campus, aiming to expand capacity to about 2,000 students and 250 staff by 2030. Rare Disease Medicines Pressure: Patient groups and families in Ireland call for faster access to new drugs, including dedicated budget funding and broader early access—highlighting how delays can cost families dearly. Loneliness & Brain Health: A large European study finds loneliness is linked to worse memory at the start, but doesn’t seem to speed up memory decline over time, supporting the case for routine loneliness screening. Clean Heat for Healthier Air: The EU backs 65 industrial heat projects with €400m to cut fossil fuel use, including a Slovenian pharma site, as decarbonised heat can mean cleaner local environments. Tobacco Control Debate: International reporting keeps spotlighting how affordability and policy gaps can undermine anti-smoking efforts, even when countries improve on paper.

Pharmacy Education Boost: Ljubljana’s Faculty of Pharmacy is getting a new €100M building at Brdo Campus, with space for about 2,000 students and 250 staff, aiming to finish by 2030. Loneliness & Brain Health: A large European study of 10,000+ older adults links loneliness to worse memory at the start, but not to faster memory decline over time—supporting the case for loneliness screening in care. Clean Heat Funding: The EU’s first industrial heat auction backs 65 projects with €400M, including a Slovenia site tied to decarbonising heat for energy-intensive industries. Tobacco Policy Debate: New anti-tobacco moves are sparking pushback, with calls to raise tobacco prices and use neutral packaging, while critics warn EU rules may also undermine quitting tools. Healthcare Access Change: Social Democrats propose changes to make it easier for patients to get a new named general practitioner after losing one. Ukrainian Rights Support in Slovenia: A new adviser for the Ukrainian Ombudsman starts work in Slovenia, focusing on access to medical care, education, social support, housing, and child rights. Public Health & Diet Scrutiny: Slovenia’s 2025 dietary guidelines face criticism from health institutions over how they were drafted and published.

Pharmacy & Training: The foundation stone was laid for a new Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy building at Brdo Campus, a €100m project expected to be finished by 2030, with space for about 2,000 students and 250 staff and new labs to support Slovenia’s growing pharma workforce. Loneliness & Brain Health: A major European study following 10,000+ adults aged 65–94 found loneliness is linked to worse memory at the start, but it doesn’t seem to speed up memory decline over time—supporting the idea that social isolation may not directly drive dementia risk. Clean Heat for Health-Linked Industry: The EU selected 65 industrial heat decarbonisation projects for €400m under its first Heat Auction, including a Slovenian pharma production site, aiming to cut fossil-fuel heat use and reduce emissions. Tobacco Policy Debate: Health groups and professionals are pushing for tougher anti-tobacco measures—higher tobacco prices, neutral packaging, and better support for quitting—while critics warn EU “smokefree” plans may be undermined by how nicotine alternatives are treated. Ukrainian Support in Slovenia: Slovenia has an appointed adviser to help Ukrainians access legal and social services, including medical care, education, housing, and support for children’s rights. Wellness & Recovery: Cold-water wild swimming is trending, and Lake Bled is highlighted as a top spot for “hot and cold therapy” experiences.

Data Privacy Check: Incogni’s review puts a spotlight on whether personal-data removal tools really work—its service claims automated requests to 420+ data brokers, plus an audit-backed track record of millions of deletions. Healthcare Access (Slovenia): Social Democrats filed changes to simplify getting a new named general practitioner after losing the previous one, aiming to reduce patient hassle. Tobacco Policy Debate: Doctors and patients are pushing for higher tobacco prices and neutral packaging under a new anti-tobacco law—while critics warn the EU’s broader “smokefree” approach may be undermined by tougher rules on alternatives. EU Clean Heat Push: The EU awarded €400 million to 65 industrial heat projects to cut fossil fuel use, including work spanning Slovenia. Ukrainian Support in Slovenia: A Ukrainian Ombudsman adviser, Ross Fedorov, has started helping Ukrainians with legal guidance and access to services. Sports/Health Angle: Roland Garros heat and blister issues show how extreme conditions can quickly affect athletes.

Healthcare Access Reform: Slovenia’s Social Democrats (SD) have filed changes to health legislation to make it easier for patients to get a new named general practitioner after losing the previous one. Tobacco Policy Clash: Across Europe, pressure is building for tougher anti-smoking rules—doctors and patients are calling for higher tobacco prices and neutral packaging—while critics warn the EU’s approach to “smokefree” is undermined by harsh limits on safer nicotine alternatives. Ukrainian Support in Slovenia: Ukraine’s ombudsman has started work in Slovenia via an adviser role for Ross Fedorov, focused on legal guidance and access to services for Ukrainians. Heat & Health Infrastructure: The EU approved €400m for 65 industrial heat decarbonisation projects, including Slovenia—aimed at cleaner energy for health-relevant industries like pharmaceuticals. Local Health Education: A foundation stone was laid for the new Ljubljana Faculty of Pharmacy building, targeting completion in 2030.