The availability in medicines in general

The Slovenian system has three lists of medicines, a positive, an interim and a negative list.

Medicines on the positive list are reimbursed at a level of 75%, those on the interim list at a level of 25% and medicines on the negative list need to be paid for entirely by patients themselves.

Drugs used during hospital treatment and drugs for children, mental disorders and some other diseases are free of charge.

According to the Slovenian Alzheimer’s society, the vast majority of people (more than 90 %) pay an additional voluntary insurance (€20,7 monthly) which covers several medical costs. Amongst other things, this voluntary insurance guarantees 100 % reimbursement for medicines on the positive and interim lists.

The availability of Alzheimer treatments

All four anti-dementia drugs are available to patients in Slovenia and all four are on the interim list and available for reimbursement.

In Slovenia, the initial prescription of anti-dementia drugs can only be done by a specialist doctor (psychiatrist or neurologist), whereas there are no restrictions for continuing treatment decisions. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and an MMSE score between 10 and 26 are requirements for the reimbursement of any of the anti-dementia drugs. Nevertheless, the Slovenian Alzheimer association also explains that for patients with an MMSE over 26, reimbursement is possible if further more extensive neuropsychological tests show cognitive decline of a patient consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. The Slovenian system reimburses medicines for people living alone or in nursing homes.

Unlike most other European countries, memantine is available for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, but not for severe Alzheimer’s disease.