The availability of medicines in general

In Slovakia, medicines are included in a list specifying whether patients being prescribed these medicines are fully or partially refunded for their costs. The Slovak system does not differentiate between different groups of people based on age or income.[1]

The availability of Alzheimer treatments

All four anti-dementia drugs are available in Slovakia and are part of the reimbursement system.

Treatment initiation and continuation is limited to specialists and the reimbursement system requires specialists to carry out an MMSE of patients. Patients with MMSE scores between 24 and 13 can receive one of the four anti-dementia drugs. Unlike most other European countries, memantine is thus available for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and not for severe Alzheimer’s disease.

There are no restrictions for people living alone or in nursing homes.

[1] European Commission (2006): MISSOC – Mutual information system on social protection : Social protection in the Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area and in Switzerland : Comparative tables