In November 2000, the Slovak government adopted a state health policy which regards palliative care as one of its priorities, but this policy commitment has not been matched by new financial support. It is anticipated that future funding for palliative care will come from a joint arrangement between the Public Health Insurance scheme and the Public Social Insurance scheme, reflecting recognition of hospices as health and social care facilities.4 Volunteers have no official recognition within the health or social care system; 3 NGOs in the country train volunteers, but they are not recognised by the Labour Code which requires that all workers must be rewarded financially. Home nursing services and home social care services are rigidly separated in Slovakia for funding and delivery purposes. It is said that palliative care patients make up 60% of the former, though the nurses are not trained in this work.5 Home social care services are mostly run by Christian charities.
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