Healthcare Access & Waiting Lists: Slovenia’s incoming health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says he’ll cut waiting times by activating all available capacities, strengthening primary care, and pushing broader reorganisation and digitalisation—while warning the task is urgent. Health Policy & Privatization Debate: Opposition MPs accuse the new government of planning to privatise healthcare and bypass social dialogue, urging it not to deepen the ideological divide. Mental Health & Patient Voice: Ireland’s Mary Butler highlights “lived experience” and patient co-production at a European Patient Forum event, focusing on mental health service improvement. Pharma & Natural Medicines Market: Salus signs a deal to buy Farmedica (OTC natural medicines) for about EUR 21.6m, signaling continued investment in accessible self-care products. Public Health Rights: Slovenia’s Ombudsman calls for better national implementation of the constitutional right to drinking water, linking it to life, dignity and health. Animal Health Innovation: Slovenian startup HeroLabs wins Startup of the Year for MooHero, a smart cow collar that tracks health and heat cycles to support earlier detection and better breeding outcomes. EU Oversight: The European Commission launches infringement actions and also targets delayed transposition of consumer, health and worker-safety rules. Travel Pressure on Health: Popular European holiday hotspots are adding caps and booking systems to reduce crowding impacts on residents and fragile sites.