2.12 HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 2.12 HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE CASES CONSIDERED FIELD OF WORK 12. Health care and health insurance 2014 2015 RESOLVED AND FOUNDED Index 15/14 NO. OF RESOLVED NO. OF FOUNDED PERCENTAGE OF FOUNDED AMONG RESOLVED 144 152 105.5 121 19 15.7 12.1 Health insurance 59 46 78 35 7 20 12.2 Health care 85 106 124.7 86 12 14 2.12.1 General observations The number of complaints involving health is approximately the same as in 2014, whereby the number of complaints concerning health care increased significantly (by 23 per cent), and the number of complaints referring to compulsory health insurance decreased by almost the same percentage. The fact that as many as one-fifth of complaints about health insurance were justified may be of some concern. It could be understood from this fact that the work of the Health Insurance Institute of the Republic of Slovenia must be improved when making decisions on people’s entitlements. 2.11 PENSION AND DISABILITY INSURANCE In the 2014 annual report, it was determined that the frequent change of health ministers had a negative impact on the adoption of urgent amendments in the health-care and health insurance systems; however, this did not improve significantly in 2015. The Ministry constantly promises the requisite statutory amendments. At the time of writing this Report, these amendments had not even entered public discussion. Extending waiting times, certain irregularities when organising work, alleged expert errors and the unwillingness of the authorities to respond promptly and effectively reduce citizens’ trust in health care and lead to complaints about corruption, which has a negative impact on the realisation of the principles of the rule of law and the social state. The problem of a certain group of patients cannot be partially resolved, because comprehensive solutions are required. The hope that the long-expected reform would happen in 2016 is due particularly to the drafted Resolution on the National Health-Care Plan 2015–2025 and the Government’s Legislative Work Programme, which anticipates the passage of key acts by the end of 2016. The Ministry had obviously changed its decision and would not amend the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Act, as was stated in the Government’s response report to the 2014 Ombudsman’s Annual Report. In the 2014 report, we assessed that the work of the Ministry of Health was not organised well, and that no one was verifying the responsibility of individual public employees for their lack of performance. It must be said that the Ministry’s response to our inquiries improved in 2015, whereby the section of the Ministry which drafted certain new executive acts must be commended. They asked for the Ombudsman’s opinion on the relevant acts and then informed us to what extent they had observed our comments and proposals. We expect the Ministry to continue this practice also when drafting new legislation. 126 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 127