Tadej Ostrc Hopes Teo Slodnjak Can Travel to the US for Treatment This Year

Health Minister Tadej Ostrc has voiced hope that seven-year-old Teo Slodnjak will be able to travel to the United States for treatment before the end of the year. The minister shared the goal during a public discussion in Gorišnica, where residents raised concerns about healthcare access and staffing. Teo, from Tržec near Ptuj, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. According to the article, treatment available in the United States is being considered for him, but Slovenia’s Health Insurance Institute rejected the family’s application. The case has attracted attention well beyond the local community. Ostrc said the government had established a public fund for advanced treatment of rare diseases on November 5. The application for Teo is expected to be prepared as soon as the fund begins operating, he said. The minister has also met with the boy’s family personally. The government has allocated €10 million in dedicated assets to the fund. It is intended to finance treatment for children with rare diseases when that care is not covered by compulsory health insurance. The fund will start work after it is entered in the court register. The meeting in Gorišnica was organised by independent mayoral candidate Bojan Purgaj and also included Luka Roškar, head of the gynaecology and maternity department at Murska Sobota General Hospital. Discussion covered access to healthcare, staff shortages and care for older people. Ostrc also presented a proposed law aimed at improving access to healthcare, while a separate bill on health investments is being considered by parliament. The latter proposes €20 million a year for primary care, including support for municipal clinics and health stations. Asked about Gorišnica’s effort to secure a paediatric clinic, Ostrc advised the municipality to formally submit its need.