At today’s AmCham Business Breakfast: “What’s the True Cost if We Don’t Invest in Health?” participants emphasized that investing in health is not a cost, but a strategic and necessary investment – both from the perspective of the individual and society as a whole. A functional, accessible, and sustainable healthcare system is a vital component of a broader reflection on societal resilience, which is once again emerging as a key development priority in light of current challenges.

Value-based healthcare (VBHC) is an approach that focuses on treatment outcomes of significance to the patient throughout the entire cycle of care, from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. VBHC aims to put in place healthcare systems that focus on creating the greatest value for patients.  In this context, Dragan Kovačič, MD, Director, Celje General Hospital and Vice President, Slovenian Society of Cardiology, emphasized the human element and the vocation of healthcare work: “We’ve always responded to pressure and criticism by working more – turning against the patient is never the answer. When you wear a white coat, you don’t have the right to give up. This job is so rewarding that all the pressure eventually fades away. It’s the best profession in the world! Things aren’t as bad as they may seem – Slovenia is a paradise on Earth, safe and full of kind people, and yet we’re still not satisfied. But we do have a challenge in chronic care – doctors are aging too.” He thus placed the debate in the concrete, day-to-day context of managing a healthcare institution, highlighting the daily struggles healthcare professionals face between high expectations, limited resources, and systemic constraints.

The AmCham Health and Wellbeing Committee also advocates for the long-term benefits of data-driven healthcare and digital tools. Such an approach enhances the quality of patient care, improves the efficiency of healthcare professionals, and increases the effectiveness and transparency of all processes. Prof. Stjepan Orešković, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb and Chair of the Board, Center for Research of Best Practices in Health and Director, WHO Collaborating Center for HIV, emphasized that Slovenia has a strong public health system, but its long-term sustainability is threatened by weak management, lack of strategic direction, and underutilized data and technology: “Data science today offers extraordinary capacity, yet we’re still not using AI and data effectively – even though we can tailor them to individuals. I simply don’t understand the ongoing ignorance. Decision-making is regressing to the 19th century. With better use of interconnected data sources, we could better manage the health of every individual, not just the system.”

The central message of the discussion was that health is not only a personal good but a fundamental societal and economic category. Malina Müller, PhD Head of Health Economics, WifOR Institute, provided empirical evidence of the direct economic impact of investing in prevention: “You’re quite advanced when it comes to universal health coverage. But everything starts with prevention and awareness – preventive measures could be much more effective. Many countries fear investing in prevention because they don’t see it as an investment. But beyond health benefits, these investments also bring direct economic returns – even within the same year. The real issue lies in the lack of collaboration between stakeholders and low awareness.”

Assoc. Prof. Branko Gabrovec, PhD, General Director, National Institute of Public Health also echoed the need to embrace artificial intelligence and underscored the importance of public health as the future of the healthcare system: “Data give us better direction, yet we still allocate only 6% of resources to prevention, while 65% go to curative care and the rest to pharmaceuticals… Public health is the future of the healthcare system.” He stressed that while we now have more data and analytical tools than ever before, without strategic will, they remain an untapped resource. Investing in prevention and healthy lifestyles, he noted, is essential for long-term system relief and improving quality of life: “Slovenians are good at fire safety – but that’s no way to run a healthcare system.”

Representatives of political parties, invited as key stakeholders, responded to the invitation and shared their views during the event: 

Iva Dimic (NSi), Vice President of the Health Committee in the National Assembly, commented on the results of the audience poll, where the most supported measure for a more effective healthcare system was “healthcare leadership and leadership within healthcare.” She emphasized: “Unfortunately, our health insurer still divides resources between institutions and hospitals according to an outdated model. Yet, with six billion euros, better management, optimization, and perhaps the introduction of a competing insurance provider, this money could be used much more effectively – providing timely care for those currently stuck on long waiting lists. We’re trying to force a separation between public and private sectors, when we should be working in synergy.” 

Marko Lotrič (FOKUS) addressed the proposed amendment to the Healthcare Services Act and warned that, despite its reformative intention, it fails to address a key issue – the reduction of waiting times. In his view, the patient must be at the center, and time is a crucial factor: “What matters most to patients is receiving timely and quality care. Sick leave disrupts the entire system. Employers already invest heavily in health – because it simply pays off. That’s a clear sign that health is not a cost but an investment. Every hour of delayed care is a loss – for the individual and for GDP. Good practices, including the use of artificial intelligence, can significantly speed up processes. We are all called upon to help reduce waiting times. If we don’t invest in health today, we’ll be investing in consequences tomorrow – and those will be more expensive, more prolonged, and more painful.” 

Tadej Ostrc (Demokrati) also shared his perspective: “Healthcare costs are rising, but there is enough money in the Slovenian healthcare system. Perhaps we’re simply not using it in a targeted and effective way. Leadership is something we absolutely must work on.” He highlighted Ljutomer Health Center as a positive example, where, according to him, the system functions exceptionally well thanks to strong leadership and a culture of collaboration. The center is led by a manager with a business background, and primary healthcare has been organized following a “one-stop-shop” model – offering integrated care, with referrals reserved for truly complex cases. 

The discussion delivered a clear message: Slovenia doesn’t need a revolution – it needs the courage to shift from a reactive to a proactive healthcare system, where health is understood as a developmental and economic advantage, not just a cost or burden. We need a broad societal consensus on a long-term healthcare vision – with clear goals, defined responsibilities, and performance measurement tools.

AmCham Slovenia therefore reaffirms its key positions, also outlined in its Healthcare Advocacy Position Paper (February 2024):

• Health must become a central pillar of development policy.
• We need professionalization of healthcare institution management and merit-based appointments.
• Public-private cooperation must be built on trust, transparency, and clearly defined roles.
• Digitalization and artificial intelligence must support decision-making and service planning.
• Every hour lost to waiting lists is not only a loss for the individual – it’s a loss for society and the national economy.

Today’s breakfast was not just a discussion – it was a call to action. Key stakeholders – from healthcare and business – expressed readiness and determination to help transform the Slovenian healthcare system. Now is the time to turn that energy into a force for change.

If we don’t invest in health today, we will be investing in consequences tomorrow – and those will be more expensive, long-lasting, and painful.

The photo gallery is available HERE.