More and more children in distress are waiting in lines, and the bill is on the table, but the department is not in a hurry.

More children are waiting longer than acceptable for their first psychiatric evaluation, with some facing delays exceeding 800 days. The issue has sparked calls for urgent action, yet the Ministry of Health continues to prioritize filling existing resources before expanding the network of child and adolescent mental health centers (CDZOM). According to data from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), the average waiting time for initial evaluations has reached alarming levels, with over 1,000 children and adolescents awaiting care under the “regular” category alone. The situation has worsened significantly since July, with waiting times far exceeding legal limits. For patients assigned the “very fast” priority, the maximum allowed waiting period is 30 days, but nearly 479 children and adolescents were still waiting beyond this threshold. Similarly, over 391 were waiting more than 90 days for the “fast” category, and 354 exceeded the 180-day limit for the “regular” category. These figures highlight a systemic failure to meet even basic service standards, raising concerns among professionals and families alike. Pediatric psychiatrist Maja Drobnič Radobuljac warns that the lack of properly structured teams in Ljubljana has led to prolonged waits across the country. She notes that while the establishment of CDZOM centers has improved access to care, the current staffing model, typically one pediatric psychiatrist per team, is insufficient to address growing demand. In fact, the National Program for Mental Health 2018–2028 mandates only one specialist per team, despite clear evidence of inadequate capacity. The Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has been urging the ministry to revise its approach since late 2024. They argue that having two pediatric psychiatrists per team would better manage workload and reduce wait times. However, these recommendations have not been acted upon, even after over a year and a half. As of early 2026, only 26 teams operate within 22 CDZOM centers, far below the planned number. In Ljubljana, six teams were initially intended, but only two are currently active. In Novo Mesto, the local hospital failed to secure the minimum staff required for a team in 2025, and the CDZOM center in Kocje Polje remains unestablished. Despite the challenges, the CDZOM model was designed to improve early, comprehensive, and community-based care for children and adolescents. These centers aim to increase accessibility to identification, treatment, and support services through primary healthcare settings, eliminating the need for referrals. Yet, the shortage of qualified personnel has undermined this goal, leaving many families without timely assistance. In November 2025, the National Institute of Public Health released an analysis of CDZOM performance, recommending the introduction of additional specialists in child and adolescent psychiatry. This aligns with earlier calls from the professional community, which emphasized the potential impact of such measures on reducing waiting times. While the ministry has acknowledged the need for expansion, it has not yet taken decisive steps to implement these changes, leaving the system in a state of crisis.