Premier Meets Ombudsman, Ready to Address Issue of Exception-Based Medications

Bratislava, 20 May (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met with Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky to discuss ways to improve access to exception-based medications for patients in urgent need on Tuesday, calling the issue serious and expressing readiness to hold talks with the relevant institutions, the Government Office stated on social media on the same day. "The Slovak Ombudsman informed Robert Fico that he had submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic to initiate proceedings on the compliance of legal regulations. According to him, the current legal framework governing the procedure of health insurance companies in approving exception-based medication reimbursements is unsustainable from a human rights protection perspective," the Government Office explained. Dobrovodsky raised concerns about the law regarding the scope and conditions for medication reimbursement, arguing that the current procedure for approving exception-based medications is legally unsustainable and denies equal access to free health care. He proposed legislative changes to set clearer rules for health insurers and has called a round table for May 22. lin