Cutting Director South

The Slovenian Ministry of Health has announced plans for extensive personnel changes within hospital and healthcare facility leadership positions. These changes come amid ongoing efforts to reform public health administration and address systemic challenges within the sector. The ministry has already initiated two public calls for candidates interested in serving as representatives of the state in public institutions, with the second call introducing relaxed criteria for selection. This shift marks a departure from previous standards, which required candidates to have experience in healthcare management or system-level leadership. According to reports, the first call, issued in June, attracted 145 suitable applicants. However, this number was deemed insufficient to meet the planned staffing requirements. As a result, the ministry launched a second call, reducing the selection criteria. Under the new guidelines, candidates will no longer be evaluated based on their professional background in healthcare or large-scale system management. Instead, the focus appears to be on broadening the pool of potential state representatives. Officials explained that the revised rules were necessary because the existing regulations had been stricter than the law itself, allowing for adjustments in evaluation metrics. Simultaneously, the ministry is preparing to replace current board members. Previously, the removal of a state representative from a hospital or care home could only occur under specific conditions, such as negligence, failure to represent the institution's interests, or absence from meetings. Now, the government can remove its representatives based on its own judgment, without providing justification. This change has drawn criticism from the anti-corruption commission, which emphasized the importance of clearly defined grounds for dismissal to prevent arbitrary decisions and undue influence. Commission chairwoman Katarina Bervar Sternad stated that board members must act in the interest of the institution, not merely follow political directives. The anticipated wave of personnel changes is expected to intensify in the autumn, potentially leading to widespread replacements among hospital directors and care home managers. While the replacement of board members can be automated, the process for replacing hospital directors is more complex. According to legal provisions, hospitals may appoint interim administrations if they face financial losses. Minister Tadej Ostrc highlighted the dire financial situation in Slovenia’s hospitals during a press conference in late July, noting that the first five months of the year had already resulted in a projected shortfall of 22 million euros. Although the loss is partly attributed to rising wages and the national health insurance fund not yet recognizing higher service costs, the formal deficit could serve as a justification for restructuring. Currently, the ministry has already gathered the initial 145 candidate applications. One of the likely targets for a major reshuffle is Marko Jug, the general director of the University Medical Center Ljubljana. His position is expected to be among the first to undergo review, reflecting the broader trend of administrative overhaul aimed at improving efficiency and accountability within the public healthcare system.