Primary health care reform in Slovenia: first results.

The paper explains the main features of the primary health care system and its reform in Slovenia. The reform that has started in 1992, was characterized by the following main changes: introducing the national health insurance scheme as opposed to budget financing, a new contrast between providers and the national health insurance and a possibility of independent contracting with the national health insurance. The data show that the number of consultations per person per year has increased, especially in general practice. A possible explanation to that would be the fact that people had to visit their physicians in order to register with a specific PHC physician. It remains to be seen whether the high level of new attendances will remain in the following year or whether this is just a temporary situation.