< Back PRESS RELEASE – Slovakia’s Competitiveness Ranking Signals Urgent Need for Reform Jul 2, 2024 Future Slovakia Forum calls for structural change as IMD data places Slovakia 59th out of 67 countries in global competitiveness Slovakia's Competitiveness in Global Context: The Case for Urgent Reforms In a detailed commentary for Týždeň magazine, Dávid Bořuta, executive director of Future Slovakia Forum (FSF), analyzes the findings of the latest IMD World Competitiveness Rankings, where Slovakia ranked 59th out of 67 countries. The article identifies structural weaknesses in Slovakia's economic performance, government efficiency, business practices, and infrastructure. It highlights the need for comprehensive reforms, particularly in education, innovation, investment climate, and public sector governance. Bořuta argues that financial incentives alone will not improve Slovakia’s attractiveness. Instead, systemic changes and institutional restructuring are essential to reverse brain drain, strengthen investor confidence, and ensure long-term prosperity. Drawing on IMD’s methodology, the article serves as a mirror for Slovak policymakers and the public, offering data-driven insights and practical recommendations. FSF continues its mission of fostering fact-based dialogue and evidence-based reform, reinforcing Slovakia’s path toward competitiveness and sustainable development. Read the full article (in Slovak) on .týždeň here ⬇️ : Slovakia's Competitiveness in Global Context - full article < Previous Next >

< Back Health Does Not Begin in a Hospital: HFS Welcomes the Slovakia 2040 Vision and Offers Expert Input for Its Implementation Sep 4, 2026 The Vision links health with prevention, accessible care, the healthcare workforce, quality data and stable financing. HFS offers experience from developing the system-wide REFORMA 3.3 healthcare reform framework. Healthy Future of Slovakia (HFS), an expert healthcare initiative of the Future Slovakia Forum think tank, welcomes Vízia Slovensko 2040: Cesta ku kvalitnejšiemu životu — the Slovakia 2040 Vision: A Path to a Better Quality of Life — as an important cross-sector framework for the country’s long-term development. The document was prepared by the Slovak Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Slovak Rectors’ Conference and presented to the public on 1 September 2026. PRESS RELEASE - HFS welcomes Vízia Slovensko 2040 HFS particularly welcomes the fact that the Vision does not treat health merely as an output of the healthcare system. Health is also shaped by prevention, nutrition, physical activity, the environment, housing, social conditions, mental health and access to long-term care. For people, this should mean a clear and coordinated pathway through the system, without having to carry information between institutions or work out who is responsible for the next step. Reducing health inequalities between regions and population groups is equally important. The decisive step will be moving from vision to implementation The Vision defines the desired future and its guiding principles. The follow-up Slovakia 2040 Strategy is expected to determine the order of priorities, specific measures, responsible actors and financing. According to the timetable published by the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the Strategy should be prepared by 31 January 2027 and submitted to the Government by 31 March 2027 . HFS is ready to contribute proposals on sequencing, allocation of responsibilities, measurement of outcomes and the safe implementation of reforms. The HFS expert group considers it essential to strengthen prevention, outpatient and long-term care, coordinate the patient pathway and link additional resources to accessibility, quality and health outcomes. REFORMA 3.3 can contribute concrete proposals on how to translate this direction into practice. Where HFS sees common ground with the Vision Strong public health, prevention and accessible outpatient care. Chronic diseases and avoidable mortality cannot be addressed solely by increasing hospital activity. A coordinated patient pathway and continuity of care. Outpatient, hospital, home-based, post-acute and long-term care must be connected with rehabilitation, palliative, hospice and social support. A sufficient healthcare workforce and regional capacity planning. Without the necessary people and skills, even strong reform proposals will remain on paper. Team-based roles and scopes of practice must be expanded safely. Interoperable data and functional digital healthcare. Relevant information should follow the patient and support healthcare professionals rather than create additional duplication and administrative work. Artificial intelligence must remain under human oversight. Stable and predictable financing and financial protection for households. Additional resources should improve accessibility, quality and health outcomes, rather than merely increase the volume of services delivered. PRESS RELEASE - HFS welcomes Vízia Slovensko 2040 What HFS can contribute to the Slovakia 2040 Strategy Healthy Future of Slovakia is developing REFORMA 3.3 , a system-wide expert framework covering six interconnected areas: outpatient care; long-term care; pharmaceutical policy; digitalisation; healthcare financing; the hospital network. The healthcare workforce, prevention and outcome measurement are cross-cutting themes across the entire framework. HFS can contribute to the preparation of the Strategy through proposals on the sequencing of measures, clear allocation of responsibilities, measurable indicators, real-world testing of proposed solutions and a multiannual financing framework. This is expert input for further assessment. It is not a final budget commitment or the only possible model for reform. HFS is ready to engage with the team preparing the Slovakia 2040 Strategy and, subject to internal approval, share selected expert materials. Healthcare is not an isolated sector Future Slovakia Forum operates as a T-shaped think tank : it builds deep expertise in selected sectors and connects it through cross-cutting capabilities in public finance, human capacity, data, regional development, governance and implementation. Alongside its advanced work on REFORMA 3.3, FSF is finalising preparations for its Education and Science reform initiative. In cooperation with partners, it is also preparing a reform of public administration, including the completion of decentralisation. These areas are mutually dependent. Healthcare requires high-quality education and a capable state. Schools and public services require functioning regions. Decentralisation requires clearly defined responsibilities, financing, data and accountability. Connecting these sectoral reform agendas can therefore add substantial value to the development of strategies in the key areas needed to deliver the Slovakia 2040 Vision. From HFS’s perspective, the overall direction of the Slovakia 2040 Vision aligns closely with the principles of REFORMA 3.3. HFS therefore offers its experience and concrete proposals for the preparation and subsequent implementation of the follow-up Slovakia 2040 Strategy. The Vision is the beginning. Implementation will decide. Even the best document will remain on paper unless it is translated into clear responsibilities, sufficient capacity, sustainable financing and outcomes that people can experience in their everyday lives. Healthy Future of Slovakia is an expert healthcare initiative of Future Slovakia Forum . It is developing REFORMA 3.3, a system-wide expert framework for Slovak healthcare that is currently being reviewed by an international Advisory Board. REFORMA 3.3 is neither a government programme nor a party-political platform. PRESS RELEASE - HFS welcomes Vízia Slovensko 2040 < Previous Next >

< Back Seats Decide: January 2026 Projection Jan 27, 2026 Opposition 88 : 62, Two Seats Short of a Constitutional Majority If parliamentary elections were held in mid-January 2026, the modelled distribution of seats based on aggregated polling data would result in an 88 : 62 split in favour of the opposition—only two seats short of a constitutional majority. At the same time, significant shifts are visible within the governing bloc (decline of HLAS and SMER, growth of Republika) and a return of the Democrats to parliament. The decisive factor remains approximately 470,000 undecided voters (17%). Based on averaged public opinion polling data (collection up to 15 January 2026 ), the modelled distribution of parliamentary seats , assuming elections were held in mid-January 2026, would be as follows: Opposition: 88 seats PS – 21.50% → 37 seats Slovensko + Za ľudí – 9.17% → 16 seats SaS – 7.30% → 13 seats KDH – 6.73% → 12 seats Demokrati – 5.67% → 10 seats Governing bloc + Republika: 62 seats SMER – 17.43% → 30 seats Republika – 10.80% → 19 seats HLAS – 7.67% → 13 seats Below the electoral threshold (5%): SNS (3.30%), Hungarian Alliance (4.13%), We Are Family (2.63%) Note: This is a projection based on voter preferences , not the current composition of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. Key Changes Compared to the 2023 Elections (Votes) Total votes in the modelled projection (January 2026): Opposition: 1,376,337 votes Governing bloc: 1,255,937 votes Difference: +120,400 votes in favour of the opposition Since the 2023 elections, governing parties have lost a combined 508,000 voters : SMER: −204,690 votes (−30%) HLAS: −226,940 votes (−52%) SNS: −76,830 votes (−46%) This decline is partially offset by the growth of Republika: Republika: +153,987 votes (+109%) Change Over One Year (January 2025 → January 2026) Governing bloc: SMER: −111,353 votes, −7 seats HLAS: −122,085 votes, −8 seats Republika: +92,984 votes, +6 seats Opposition bloc: PS: −78,473 votes, −5 seats Demokrati: +37,479 votes, +10 seats Slovensko + Za ľudí: +47,605 votes, +3 seats SaS: +12,255 votes, +1 seat KDH: −1,365 votes Decisive Factor: Undecided Voters Approximately 470,000 undecided voters (around 17% of eligible voters ) remain an open factor in determining the election outcome. Based on long-term trends, it can be expected that 40–60% of them will ultimately participate in the elections, potentially having a decisive impact on the final result. Note: The figure of 470,000 / 17% represents a six-month average reported by AKO and FOCUS Marketing & Social Research . METHODOLOGY Data sourced from three independent polling agencies (collections in January 2025 and January 2026). Averaged values based on data collected up to 15 January 2026 . Comparison with the 2023 parliamentary elections: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic . Figures for the Slovensko movement include Za ľudí . The seat distribution presented is a projection based on voter preferences , not the current parliamentary reality. SOURCES NMS Market Research Slovakia AKO (for TV JOJ 24) IPSOS (for Denník N) FOCUS Marketing & Social Research Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (2023 elections) < Previous Next >

Executive Board Elena Fischerová Member of FSF - Education Group Coordinator Mediator in training and Director of the Edulienka Youth Center. Combines expertise in neuroscience and alternative conflict resolution in education with a mission to develop autonomous, empathetic, and resilient young people prepared for a rapidly changing world. Miloslav Olejár Member of FSF - Decentralization Group Coordinator Architect with 20 years of professional experience in Canada and a civic leader from Bardejov. Advocates for municipal governance reform and decentralization as tools to strengthen democratic participation. Juraj Sarkisjan Member of FSF - Education Group Data engineer and classical archaeologist (Charles University). Former spreader of conspiracy theories, now an advocate against disinformation and a promoter of critical thinking. Marek Polonec Member of FSF - Education & Decentralisation Groups Psychologist and entrepreneur in the tourism sector, member of the leadership of the Demokrati party. Organizer of the discussion series 'Dialogue for Democracy'.

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Education & Skills Elena Fischerová Member of FSF - Education Group Coordinator Mediator in training and Director of the Edulienka Youth Center. Combines expertise in neuroscience and alternative conflict resolution in education with a mission to develop autonomous, empathetic, and resilient young people prepared for a rapidly changing world. With a background in the private sector—including legal practice and property management—she transitioned to civic engagement in 2021, joining Slovak Global Network where she managed the community platform and later coordinated the "Vision for Slovakia" (Vízia pre Slovensko) working group alongside leading experts in public policy. For three years, she has co-facilitated the award-winning educational program "V hľadáčiku" (In the Viewfinder), created by Lucia Šícková. Together with coach Michal Pažitka, she guides 7th-grade students through a year-long journey of autonomous decision-making, team collaboration, and project-based learning—grounded in modern neuroscience and growth mindset principles. Currently expanding Edulienka's programming for older youth, including the "InTyMyTa – Healthy Relationships Day" initiative focused on emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Student of mediation at ASAS (Austrian School of Applied Studies) in Vienna. Juraj Sarkisjan Member of FSF - Education Group Data engineer and classical archaeologist (Charles University). Former spreader of conspiracy theories, now an advocate against disinformation and a promoter of critical thinking. Juraj completed his PhD in Classical Archaeology in 2022, pioneering the use of social network analysis to study Roman administrative groups. His research on 126 epigraphic monuments was presented at two world congresses and published in Open Archaeology (2024). He currently works as a data engineer at IBM. His personal journey from conspiracy thinking to critical awareness began around 2014–2015, when he noticed that "alternative" sources never criticized the Kremlin. The bubble burst. During COVID, he volunteered on a hospital ward. After Russia's invasion, he went to Ukraine. Today, he visits schools across Slovakia, openly sharing his story. His motto: "Peace is death." His approach: "You can't mow a stone with a scythe—let it weather." Marek Polonec Member of FSF - Education & Decentralisation Groups Psychologist and entrepreneur in the tourism sector, member of the leadership of the Demokrati party. Organizer of the discussion series 'Dialogue for Democracy'.

Healthy Future of Slovakia Róbert Babeľa Leader of Healthy Future of Slovakia Group Health economist specializing in health technology assessment (HTA), pharmaceutical policy, and healthcare economics. Vice-Rector for Research, Development and International Relations at the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava and Professor of Public Health. As State Secretary at the Ministry of Health (2021–2023), he led the team responsible for a major drug policy reform aimed at improving access to innovative medicines for Slovak patients. Author of over 180 publications with 682 academic citations. Graduate of University of Sheffield (MSc in HTA) and Open University Business School London (MBA). Fellow of the International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (FISAC) and co-chair of its pharmacoeconomics working group. Currently focuses on the economic burden of chronic diseases and cost-effectiveness evaluation of oncology screenings for the National Cancer Institute. Vladimír Dvorový Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Medical director and healthcare executive specializing in hospital network management, operational transformation, and telemedicine integration. Currently serves as Medical Director at AGEL Slovakia, Central Europe's largest private healthcare provider, overseeing 18 hospitals and strategic network reform. As General Director of ProCare and Svet zdravia (2018–2022), he led Slovakia's largest private hospital network serving one million patients and spearheaded the €240M Bory Hospital project. Previously opened Slovakia's first new hospital in 30 years in Michalovce (2017), introducing robotic pharmacy systems and advanced patient safety protocols unprecedented in Central Europe. President of the Slovak Society for Telemedicine and Digital Health and government-appointed Chairman of the expert working group for telemedicine medical services. Board-certified cardiologist and internist with 30 years of clinical and leadership experience. Graduate of Charles University Faculty of Medicine (Hradec Králové) with a Master of Public Health (MPH). Peter Polák Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Strategic healthcare consultant and public policy expert specializing in pharmaceutical policy, HTA, pricing, reimbursement, and market access. As Director General of the Section of Pharmacy and Drug Policy at the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (2021–2023), he led the preparation of a landmark amendment to the pharmaceutical law that linked the QALY parameter to GDP and enabled Slovak patients to access 57 new innovative medicines in the first year of implementation. Previously, he headed the National Cancer Registry at the National Health Information Center (2021). He spent over 18 years in the pharmaceutical industry – at Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (12 years), Roche Slovakia, and Novartis Oncology – in roles ranging from product manager to medical director and health economics lead for the Central European region. Currently Senior Partner at PHC Project HealthCare. Graduate of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Comenius University in Bratislava (biochemistry) with a PhD from the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Ľuboš Petrík Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Expert in healthcare digitalization and telemedicine with more than 25 years of experience in IT. He serves as Vice President of the Slovak Society for Telemedicine and Digital Health. Chairman of the Board and CEO of Goldmann Systems, associated with the development and rollout of the telemedicine solution telemon®, including its MDR certification (May 2024). Introducing real-world deployment of remote monitoring supported by Goldmann’s technology at scale (e.g., 400,000+ measurements for 2,000+ patients). Stanislava Mattová Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Private nursing care manager and advocate for patient-centered long-term care reform. Leading operations at MEDI ADOS in Bratislava, she has pioneered CASE management approaches that coordinate clinical care with social and psychological support for patients with serious diagnoses. Her work demonstrates how private-sector innovation can complement public healthcare infrastructure, offering practical models for integrated community care. She contributes to FSF's healthcare reform agenda with direct operational experience in home-based nursing, care quality standards, and the professional development of nurses as care coordinators. Matej Mišík Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Health economist specializing in healthcare data analytics and health policy. Currently a PhD researcher at the Health Economics, Policy and Innovation Institute (HEPII) at Masaryk University. Consultant for health policy at the WHO in the area of capital investments in Ukraine's healthcare system. As Director General of the Institute for Health Analyses at the Slovak Ministry of Health (2020–2024), he led the design and implementation of Slovakia's COVID Automat pandemic response framework. Former member of the supervisory boards of NÚSCH and VÚSCH. Author of peer-reviewed publications in Scientific Reports (Nature) and International Journal of Public Health. Graduate of Tilburg University (MSc, Health Economics) and Vienna University of Economics and Business. Ornyi Daniel Healthy Future of Slovakia Expert Healthcare manager specializing in integrated long-term and community care. As Director of MEDI ADOS s.r.o. and Nursing Manager at Rudi Senior Home in Bratislava, he designs quality and safety systems and leads multidisciplinary nursing teams. He champions digital transformation, data-driven management, and the empowerment of frontline nurses through his CareQualSystem+ model. With 21 years of clinical experience and recognized expertise in decubitus treatment, he lectures at St. Elizabeth University and advocates for preventive home-based elder care. Currently advancing his education in healthcare law (LL.M.) and community nursing specialization, bridging clinical practice with systemic reform.