AGP Executive Report

Cold-Water Wellness: Lake Bled and other scenic spots are drawing “refreshing escape” interest as more people treat glacial swims as a summer health ritual, pairing cooling off with nature time. Youth Digital Safety: Australia’s under-16 social media ban is triggering copycat proposals across Europe and beyond, as lawmakers cite concerns about minors’ mental health and harmful content exposure. Hospital Food Choices: A Slovenia-based study suggests healthier vending in healthcare settings can shift what people buy—healthy items’ share rose even if total sales dipped—supporting the idea that availability nudges better choices. Public Health Security: Europol backed an international crackdown on counterfeit medicines and supplements, targeting networks that exploited people seeking treatment for conditions like diabetes and cancer. Slovenia Health Policy Signal: A health minister candidate says they’ll activate all available capacities to cut healthcare waiting times, aiming at faster access. Community & Adolescent Support: A Positive Youth Development approach highlights how nurturing environments and community engagement can reduce problem behaviors and emotional difficulties while building confidence and connection.

Social Media Safety: Australia’s under‑16 ban is now setting off a domino effect across Europe and beyond, with lawmakers pushing for stricter access rules as concerns grow about youth mental health and harmful content exposure. Healthy Food Access: A Slovenian hospital study suggests healthier vending machines can shift what patients buy—healthy items rose from 22% to 39% even as total sales dipped—supporting the idea that availability nudges better choices. Public Health Security: Europol backed an international crackdown on counterfeit medicines and supplements, targeting a network accused of exploiting people seeking help for serious conditions like diabetes and cancer. Slovenia Health Policy Watch: Slovenia’s new right-of-centre government has pledged reforms that include healthcare changes, alongside broader plans to cut bureaucracy and tackle corruption. Nutrition Innovation: Austria’s Revo Foods is rolling out a mycelium-based “whole-cut chicken” line in Austria, Germany, and Italy, positioning it as a fibre-rich, minimally processed protein option. AMR Research: A new focus on bacteriophage therapy is gaining momentum as antimicrobial resistance worsens, with phages being explored as a targeted alternative to antibiotics.

Phage Therapy & AMR: Scientists are revisiting bacteriophages as a potential weapon against antimicrobial resistance, as drug-resistant infections could reach 10 million deaths a year by 2050, with phage “cocktails” being studied for targeted bacterial control. Hospital Food Choices: A Slovenian university clinical-center study found that when hospitals stocked healthier vending options, the share of healthy items bought jumped (from 22% to 39%), even though total vending sales fell. Counterfeit Medicines Crackdown: Europol backed an international operation targeting counterfeit medicines and supplements, disrupting a network linked to fake endorsements and manipulative ads that prey on people seeking help for serious diseases. Healthcare Access in Slovenia: Slovenia’s new right-leaning government is pushing to open the healthcare system more to private providers to cut access problems and waiting times. Pharma & Wellness Market Moves: Salus agreed to buy Farmedica for about €21.6m, while Cosmos Health expanded its Sky Premium Life nutraceutical distribution across all 27 EU member states via Skroutz. Public Health Policy Context: The European Commission’s June infringement package and enforcement actions continue to focus on member-state compliance across EU policy areas, with citizens and businesses in mind.

Healthcare access in Slovenia: The new Janša government says it wants a more business-friendly model and promises changes that could affect healthcare, while opposition warns of plans to privatise care and bypass social dialogue. Local health policy debate: Health minister Tadej Ostrc is reported to be returning with a plan to improve accessibility by involving private providers, as critics say the approach could widen the ideological divide. Hospital nutrition nudges: A Slovenian university clinical study suggests healthier hospital vending options can shift buying habits—healthy items rose from 22% to 39% even as total sales dropped—highlighting how availability can steer choices. Public health enforcement: Europol backed an international operation targeting counterfeit medicines and supplements, including call centres and warehouses, after an illicit network generated at least €240m. Phage therapy outlook: A new explainer revisits where bacteriophage treatments may fit in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Slovenia in EU health-adjacent news: EU infringement actions and broader EU resilience planning continue to shape the policy environment around health, housing, and social fairness.

Healthcare Policy & Access: Slovenia’s new right-of-centre government has pledged to reform the economic development model and make the healthcare system more accessible, including plans to open it wider to private providers to cut bottlenecks and improve access. Public Health & Food Choices: A Slovenian university clinical study suggests healthier hospital vending options can shift what people buy—healthy items rose from 22% to 39% even as total sales fell—supporting better nutrition in care settings. Phage Therapy & AMR: A new explainer revisits bacteriophage therapy as a potential tool against antimicrobial resistance, highlighting how phages are prepared and why quality control and targeted “cocktails” matter. Medicines Enforcement: Europol backed an international operation targeting counterfeit medicines and supplements, disrupting a network linked to serious conditions like diabetes and cancer. Mental Health & Patient Voice: Ireland’s mental health minister highlighted patient co-production in European healthcare policy, stressing lived experience in service design. Labour Mobility & Worker Protection: A European Labour Authority chief warns that labour shortages and migration must be managed fairly, with coordinated enforcement to curb exploitation.

Healthcare Access & Policy: Slovenia’s new right-of-centre government is taking shape, with Health Ministry plans to widen the system to private providers aimed at cutting access gaps and waiting times, while opposition warns of deficit hikes and privatization risks. Public Health & Safety: A Slovenian study suggests healthier hospital vending options can shift purchases toward water, juice and fruit (even if total sales drop), reinforcing that availability and price drive healthier choices. Medicines Integrity: Europol backed a cross-border crackdown on counterfeit medicines and supplements, targeting networks that exploited people seeking care for conditions like diabetes, cancer and psoriasis. Mental Health (EU): Ireland’s mental health minister is highlighting patient co-production in healthcare policy at a European patient engagement forum, focusing on lived experience. Human Rights: Slovenia’s ombudsman says the constitutional right to drinking water must be implemented nationally to protect health and dignity. Wellness Industry: Cosmos Health expands its Sky Premium Life nutraceutical distribution across all 27 EU member states via Skroutz, including Slovenia.

Slovenia Health Policy: Slovenia’s new right-of-centre government has taken office, with Health Minister Tadej Ostrc returning to the ministry and aiming to improve healthcare accessibility by opening the system more to private providers. Healthcare Access: A new report highlights how long patients wait for specialist care across Europe, with Slovenia facing nearly two years for hip replacement—an issue that keeps pressure on health services and outcomes. Hospital Nutrition: A Slovenian university clinical study suggests healthier hospital vending options can shift what people buy—healthy items rose sharply even if total sales dipped—pointing to practical ways to support better nutrition on-site. Public Health Innovation: Europol backed an international operation targeting counterfeit medicines and supplements, including products marketed for serious diseases like diabetes and cancer. Wellness & Pharma Business: Salus agreed to acquire Farmedica in a deal worth about EUR 21.6m, expanding access to over-the-counter natural medicines. Animal Health Tech: Slovenian startup HeroLabs won Startup of the Year for MooHero, a smart cow collar designed to monitor health and reproduction cycles.

Healthcare access in focus: Slovenia’s new right-of-centre government took office on 4 June, pledging tax cuts, less bureaucracy, and a more business-friendly approach that could reshape healthcare and education. Waiting times spotlight: An OECD Health at a Glance report flags long specialist waits across Europe, with Slovenia cited at nearly two years for hip replacement. Hospital food choices: A Slovenian university clinical study suggests healthier hospital vending options can shift purchases toward water, juice, fruit and healthier snacks—even if total sales drop. Patient voice in policy: Ireland’s mental health minister highlighted patient co-production at a European patient engagement forum, stressing lived experience in service design. Public health enforcement: Europol backed an international operation targeting counterfeit medicines and supplements sold via manipulative ads for diseases like diabetes and cancer. Health market moves: Cosmos Health says its Sky Premium Life nutraceutical brand is now available across all 27 EU member states via Skroutz. Ombudsman on water rights: Slovenia’s human rights ombudsman urged full national implementation of the right to drinking water, linking it to health and dignity.

Slovenia Health Policy: Health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the new government will cut waiting times by activating all capacities, strengthening primary care, and pushing reorganisation plus digitalisation. Healthcare Access & Accountability: The Human Rights Ombudsman calls for national-level implementation of the right to drinking water, linking it to health, dignity and life. Local Health System Pressure: A report warns the incoming cabinet may leave little of the outgoing health reform intact, leaving the next minister with an “impossible task.” Health & Business in the EU Market: Cosmos Health expands its Sky Premium Life nutraceutical/wellness brand distribution to all 27 EU member states via Skroutz, including Slovenia. Pharma & OTC Supply: Salus signs a deal to acquire Farmedica (over-the-counter natural medicines) for about EUR 21.6m. Mental Health Policy (EU): Ireland’s Mary Butler highlights patient involvement and “lived experience” in European mental health policy at a patient engagement forum. Health Governance Watch: The Ombudsman says the government and energy ministry interfered with the Energy Agency over electricity network charges—an issue tied to a healthy living environment. Waiting Times Snapshot: An OECD report ranks Slovenia among Europe’s worst for specialist waits, citing long delays such as nearly two years for hip replacement.

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.

Healthcare Access: OECD data highlights how long patients wait for care across Europe, with Slovenia cited at nearly two years for hip replacement and specialist delays worsening pain and disability. Health Policy in Slovenia: A health minister candidate says the plan is to activate all available capacities, reorganize and digitize care to cut waiting times, while Dnevnik warns the incoming minister may face an “impossible task” after major reform changes. Rights & Public Health: Slovenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman urges full national implementation of the constitutional right to drinking water, linking it to life, dignity and health. Governance & Environment: The Ombudsman also says government conduct interfered with the Energy Agency over electricity network fee reforms, raising concerns for a healthy living environment and fairness. Rural Health Tech: Slovenian startup HeroLabs wins Startup of the Year for MooHero, a smart cow collar that monitors health and behavior to help farmers detect issues earlier.

Healthcare Access in Focus: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the priority is cutting specialist waiting times by activating all available capacities, with broader reorganisation and digitalisation of the sector. Policy Oversight: The Human Rights Ombudsman reports the government and the Environment and Energy Ministry interfered with the independence of the Energy Agency over electricity network charges—an issue tied to a “healthy living environment” and fairness. Waiting Times Across Europe: An OECD-based report highlights how long patients wait for care in Europe, including Slovenia’s near two-year wait for hip replacement, warning that delays can worsen outcomes. Rural Health Tech: Slovenian startup HeroLabs won Startup of the Year 2026 for MooHero, a smart cow collar that tracks health and heat cycles to help farmers spot problems earlier and improve breeding and milk production. Public Health & Safety: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked a rescue after climbing an electrical post and walking along power cables; he had been treated at a local hospital before authorities coordinated next steps. Health Tech Trust: A disinformation watchdog says major AI chatbots can repeat pro-Russian false claims as fact, raising concerns about misinformation in health-adjacent information searches.

Healthcare Access & Waiting Times: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the incoming government should activate all available capacities, expand primary care, and push broader reorganisation and digitalisation to cut patient waiting times. Health System Reform Pressure: Dnevnik warns the next health minister may face an “impossible task” as much of the outgoing government’s health reform could be undone, leaving the system in flux. Public Health & Safety in Prisons: A Europe-wide prison overcrowding crisis is worsening, with Belgium reporting prisons running far above capacity and detainees facing poor conditions linked to outbreaks like scabies and bed bugs. Medicines Access in Greece: Greece is still struggling with delayed access to new medicines, with only a fraction reaching patients—described as a legacy of earlier healthcare cuts. Local Health Education: A new pharmacy school is planned for Ljubljana, signaling investment in training more healthcare professionals. Health & Policy Watch: EU Commission targets delayed transposition of consumer, health, and worker-safety rules, raising pressure for faster implementation.

Healthcare Access & Waiting Times: Slovenia’s health minister candidate Tadej Ostrc says the priority is cutting patient waiting times by activating all available capacities, with broader reorganisation and digitalisation plus a stronger primary care network. Health System Politics: Dnevnik warns the outgoing government’s health reform may be largely undone by the incoming team, leaving the next minister with a tough, “impossible” task. Medical Business Accountability: Ljubljana District Court found former owner of medical supplier Emporio Medical, Urška Jurkovič, guilty of defrauding creditors in a retrial and sentenced her to one year and ten months. Public Health & Safety: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked an emergency after climbing an electrical post and walking on power cables; he was previously treated at a city-run hospital while authorities coordinated his status. Workforce & Pay Policy: Interior and public administration minister candidate Franci Matoz announced separate wage systems for police, military, healthcare, education and culture, and called for restructuring the Criminal Police Administration.

EU Health & Consumer Rules: The European Commission has launched infringement steps against 20 EU countries, including Slovenia, for not fully transposing a directive aimed at empowering consumers for the green transition—covering clearer sustainability labels and tackling greenwashing. Slovenia Health System: Slovenia’s new government lineup is taking shape, with the Democrats naming Tadej Ostrc as health minister candidate as coalition parties confirm ministerial posts. Local Health Education: A new pharmacy school is set to be built in Ljubljana, adding to the pipeline of future healthcare professionals. Public Health & Loneliness: A new report highlights how loneliness can affect memory, raising fresh questions about mental health support and healthy social connections. Healthcare Access Abroad: Greece continues to face delays in new medicines reaching patients, with crisis-era cuts still shaping access. Drug Safety Watch: India’s major Captagon seizure underscores how synthetic drugs tied to conflict economies are evolving into wider trafficking networks.

Court Case in Healthcare: A Ljubljana District Court found former owner of medical supplier Emporio Medical, Urška Jurkovič, guilty of defrauding creditors in a retrial, sentencing her to 1 year and 10 months; she lives in the US and has not yet been served the verdict. EU Health & Consumer Rules: The European Commission opened infringement procedures against 20 EU member states, including Slovenia, for failing to fully transpose a directive on empowering consumers for the green transition—aimed at tackling unreliable green claims and sustainability labels. Public Health & Safety Oversight: Slovenia’s Labour Inspectorate reported 18,200 violations in 11,300 inspections in 2025, with occupational safety and health accounting for 9,600 violations. New Medical Training in Ljubljana: A new pharmacy school is set to be built in Ljubljana, adding to local healthcare education capacity. Health-Linked Risk in the News: A Slovenian national in the Philippines sparked a rescue after climbing an electrical post and walking along power cables, with authorities coordinating custody and medical care. Wellness & Memory: A report highlights how loneliness may hurt memory, even if it doesn’t work the way many people assume.