Slovenia rare disease fund and budget developments

The Slovenian government has moved to establish a public fund dedicated to the advanced treatment of rare diseases in children. The proposed fund aims to provide sustainable financing for medically justified treatments not currently covered by mandatory health insurance. Initial capital is projected at 10 million euros, with annual inflows of 10 to 12 million euros expected from unallocated portions of the one percent income tax, supplemented by donations, European funds, and pharmaceutical partnerships.

The initiative has faced several challenges. Non-governmental organizations, including CNVOS and Slovenian Philanthropy, have expressed concern that diverting income tax funds could reduce existing financial support for the non-profit sector. Additionally, legal experts have questioned the constitutionality of restricting the fund specifically to children.

In conjunction with these healthcare developments, the government has proposed a budget rebalance to keep the fiscal deficit below 3% of GDP. This rebalance addresses various economic obligations, such as defense spending and minimum wage increases. While the government seeks to strengthen public finance sustainability, the Fiscal Council noted that projected net expenditure growth remains higher than permitted, with the deficit estimated at approximately 2.9% of GDP.