Human Development and Health

The Slovenian National Human Development Report, prepared by the Slovenian Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (UMAD), focuses on general human development trends in 2002-2003, with special attention paid to health and the health care system. The Report identifies trade-offs between social solidarity and individual responsibility in the health care system, emphasizing social solidarity as the key organizing principle for the health care system. On the other hand, the Report points to the growing role of behavioral and life-style factors behind Slovenia's remaining health care challenges, indicating that health and well-being have a lot to do with individual responsibility. The Report also points to the growing role of private enterprise in the health care sector, apparent in both the growth of private health care establishments and incresaing shares of household incomes spent on supplementary insurance. This does not bode well for the poor, who do not have the income to pay for private health care services. Furthermore, due to an aging population, growing shares of GDP will be devoted to keeping elderly people healthy, meaning fewer public and private sector resources will be available to meet other health care needs. The Report's final aim is not to indicate how these future challenges might be met, but rather to stimulate contributions to alternative policy proposals and recommendations.