Slovakia is preparing an AI action plan for healthcare – with an emphasis on clear rules, meaningful funding, and the readiness of both data and people. The discussion among the state, hospitals, experts, and lessons from the Czech Republic shows that much can be done right away, even without major investments. The key is methodologies, education, and procurement focused on quality, not just price.
Three priorities and the role of the state
In a survey, hospitals identified three main areas: they need a clear regulatory framework and methodological guidance, targeted funding for innovation, and better data and organizational readiness. In other words, to know what to procure and how to use it safely, to have mechanisms that incentivize quality, and to have data and people ready for the meaningful use of AI.
The Ministry of Health is positioning itself as a regulator and guide that helps the sector comply with European rules and clearly assigns roles to existing institutions. The ambition is not to create new bodies, but to align competencies and support the safe use of artificial intelligence in practice.
What we can do right now: methodologies, education, procurement
In the short term, hospitals can be supported with methodological guidelines, sharing of best practices, and practical guides for procurement and implementation. An important component is education – translating complex legal and technical topics into clear language for managers, doctors, and the IT team.
We already have examples of successful procurements where quality, not the lowest price, was decisive – exactly what innovation needs. Also quickly achievable are mapping proven use cases with quantified return on investment (ROI) and deploying AI in administrative tasks, where time can be saved without interfering with clinical decisions and without risk to sensitive data.
Inspiration from the Czech Republic and challenges for startups
The Czech Republic started with questionnaires to providers and issued the first methodologies that distinguish whether it is a medical device or a general-purpose tool. Expert groups from the field are emerging, and “fast track” support is being considered to help manufacturers prepare for certification so that it is not needlessly prolonged.
Healthcare startups run into strict regulation and the need for clinical validation, which requires more time and capital than with typical digital products. Investor education and clear rules for the safe secondary use of health data would help; Slovakia, moreover, has the advantage of central infrastructure. The vision of a “testbed” – a country where AI solutions are responsibly tested and rolled out more quickly – is realistic: a task force is being prepared, along with short-term and long-term steps and room for prevention and screening. The momentum is favorable – nothing fundamental is holding us back.
