Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe between the Alps and the Mediterranean. The capital city of Slovenia is Ljubljana. Slovenia is a member of the European Union.

Academic and political position of family phisicians in Slovenia is rather good. Family physicians are responsible for most of primary settings (we still have paediatricians, school medicine doctors and gynaecologists in the PHC). Slovenia has a long tradition of quality health system based on primary health care activities. Quality of care is an important issue in the debates in our country. We are working on guidelines development in several fields and on organizational changes. Big problem is a shortage of all doctors, espacially of GPs. We see work overload - the obligations move from secondary to the primary care. The health centers have a need of modernization. It is possible to work also as an independent contractor not only as an employee in the non-for-profit public institutions. The role of primary care in relationship public to indipendent GPs is unclear.GP vocational training in Slovenia is comparable to other UEMO countries. We have effective GP training in primary care.

GP vocational training in Slovenia:

Our model for vocational training in family medicine is following the recommendations of the European Union of General practioners(UEMO). Specific training in FM lasts 4 years. Trainees spend half of their training (first 2 years) in a hospital setting and half in a general practice, where they are supervised by a trainer in practice. Compulsory rotation in a hospital setting are Internal Medicine(6 months), Surgery (3 months), Paediatrics(2 months), Mental Health(2 months), Oncology(2 months), Gynaecology and Obstetrics (1 month), Infectious Diseases (1 month), Neurology (1 month), Dermatology (1 month), Ophtalmology (1 month), Otolaryngology (1 month). The training second 2 years is based on practical work. Trainees spend the most time in a general practice. Twice a months they come to the university in Ljubljana where they have module. Within two years they finished 20 modules. Modules consist reports about the experience in the practice, project reports, lectures, presentation of guidelines, workshops. We have final exam (performance in practice, MCQ, OSCE, oral discussion).

National Exchange Coordinator for Slovenia

Dr Nina Kafel Jere (nina.kafel@gmail.com)