For a year and a half now, Kamil Šaško (HLAS-SD) has served as minister of Health, one of the most demanding portfolios in government. From the outset, he faced threats of strikes and complex negotiations with medical unions. That was one of the reasons, though by no means the only one, why he focused primarily on stabilizing the sector’s financing.
Are you succeeding in financially stabilizing healthcare?
Financing is and will remain the greatest challenge in healthcare. My advantage is that I am an economist and a finance professional, which means I look at things through a different lens than a doctor or a typical politician. We are seeking not only ways to bring more money into the system, but above all how to obtain the maximum possible value for everyone from public health insurance resources. That means reviewing expenditures, optimizing processes, and introducing strict, data-based management. Last year, for the first time in twenty years, the sector did not require additional funding, the state health insurance company is no longer at risk of forced administration, and has posted a surplus for the second consecutive year. We are continuing to implement fair hospital financing based on the DRG system, which this year already accounts for thirty percent of insurer payments.
What do you consider your greatest success?
Without doubt, hospital construction. We have quite literally set Slovakia building – new hospitals are under construction in Martin and Banská Bystrica, departments are being modernized in hospitals across the country, and we are investing in psychosocial centers and palliative care, which must be closer and more accessible to people in every region. We have also deepened cooperation with the Czech Republic, as evidenced not only by the cross-border emergency services agreement signed last July, but also by my recent meeting with the new Czech Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch, where we opened discussions on joint procurement of medicines and data sharing. We are also making progress in prevention, having declared 2026 the Year of Prevention, because the best treatment is the one that is not needed. The biggest challenge at present is stabilizing personnel and continuing to establish fair financing for both hospitals and outpatient clinics.
The Ministers of Health of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Kamil Šaško and Adam Vojtěch.
What is the essence of cross-border cooperation between emergency services?
The agreement is based on a simple and human principle – help must arrive as quickly as possible, regardless of which side of the border a person in life-threatening danger happens to be on. The agreement removes unnecessary administrative barriers and provides our cooperation with a solid legal framework. In practice, this means that if a Slovak ambulance is closer to an accident in Moravia, it can legally intervene – and vice versa. It applies to both ground and air rescue services in the South Moravian, Zlín, and Moravian-Silesian regions on the Czech side, and in the Bratislava, Trnava, Trenčín, and Žilina regions on the Slovak side. Emergency services must be ready to help anyone, anytime, as quickly as possible, regardless of which side of the border they are on. That is the true meaning of cooperation for the benefit of people.
Are there other opportunities for cooperation between the two countries?
Our cooperation has traditionally been above standard, and I intend to continue developing it actively. I met Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch, who took office last December, just a few days ago. It was a very constructive working meeting, preceded by discussions with Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš. We are exploring possibilities for joint procurement of medicines, particularly high-cost drugs for patients with rare diseases, where together we can achieve better prices and conditions. We also discussed healthcare digitalization, for example the cross-border recognition of e-prescriptions, which would significantly simplify life for citizens of both countries. Other topics included prevention, the shortage of healthcare personnel, and cooperation in transplantation and hospital construction.
What have you managed to improve so far for Slovak patients?
We have introduced the principle that a parent in hospital is not considered a visitor, because not only as minister but above all as a parent, I know that a child clearly needs the presence of a parent during hospitalization. We are working intensively on new pharmaceutical legislation to ensure that patients gain faster access to modern and innovative medicines, while also guaranteeing that the drugs they have been using for years will continue to be available. I have already mentioned the Year of Prevention 2026, which is focused directly on citizens. We want to motivate people to take active care of their health, not to underestimate self-examinations, and to insist on preventive check-ups from their doctors.
And doctors? Are you thinking about them as well?
I began my tenure as minister with demanding negotiations with medical unions, and I am pleased that we averted mass resignations and that social peace has been maintained in the sector to this day. I am aware that salaries are crucial, but it is not only about pay. We are also working to improve the working environment, address overtime issues, and reduce administrative burdens so that doctors can focus on what matters most – patients. It is a long-term process, and I know there is still much work ahead, but I believe we are on the right track.
CV BOX
Kamil Šaško (born November 5, 1985, in Poprad) is Slovakia’s minister of health. He previously served as the state secretary at the Ministry of Economy, where he was responsible primarily for energy policy as well as industrial policy and innovation.
He earned a degree in finance and investment banking at the London School of Business and Finance and worked in the private financial sector.
He has extensive experience in public administration at the Slovak Ministry of Finance (serving as general state advisor in the financial market area from 2014 to 2015) and the National Bank of Slovakia. From 2015 to 2020, he held various positions at the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU in Brussels, successfully leading key working groups during Slovakia's first EU Council presidency.
Since 2023, he has been a member of HLAS-SD’s board. Following the election that year, he served as a member of parliament until his appointment as minister.
He is married, has one son, and lives in Bratislava.
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