Public-private partnership in health care in Slovenia

Introduction. Public-private partnerships introduce new socioeconomic relations between the public and private sectors. A public-private partnership is a general term that comprises all forms of cooperation between the public and private sector. The position of public service providers must be clearly defined, particularly when a public service is provided by both public entities as well as private entities with concessions.Methods. Research has shown that changes are needed both in the field of management of health organisations and in the field of better and more rational use of health care funds. Health institutions should remain under state ownership, while the private sector, in the form of providers of health care services, should rent premises in these facilities. It is interesting that the majority of doctors state, as their first reason for starting a private practice, the possibility of greater independence, more rational use of funds, better use of knowledge and technology, and only in the last place do they state better pay.Results. Utilising scientific methods, it has been proven that there are differences between providing health care services in the public health care sector, public-private health care sector and the private health care sector. Research has ascertained that public-private partnerships are the most suitable form of providing health care services for both patients and for providers of health care services.