For almost a month, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia (Ombudsman) has been warning those responsible about the issue of not providing check-ups at the Outpatient Clinic for Drivers with Special Needs at URI Soča during the physicians’ strike. Despite the fact that the Ombudsman has several times stated the arguments about the fact that, while a strike is a legitimate way of achieving goals, strike goals must not be pursued to the detriment of vulnerable groups of inhabitants, yet no progress can be seen. The actions of URI Soča, which does not heed the Ombudsman’s recommendations and does not follow the commitments originating from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, are estimated as unacceptable. The Ombudsman is indignant about the fact that persons with disabilities are being held hostage.

In the upcoming days, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina intends to meet with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health, where, in addition to other healthcare-related subjects, the issue of URI Soča will also be discussed. In the Ombudsman’s opinion, the institutions could, should there be any willingness, certainly find a basis or way to perform check-ups for the extension of driver’s licences for persons with disabilities aged between 18 and 65. Since this Gordian knot has to be cut, at the meeting Ombudsman Svetina will once again call on the government and the National Assembly to immediately guarantee indisputable legal basis in the law which will enable persons with disabilities to have physicians perform all medical services for them during the strike. Allow us to recall that last week, the Ombudsman publicly proposed to the government that it prepare a proposal for the amendment of Article 46 of the Medical Services Act as soon as possible, which, during strikes, will provide persons with disabilities with all medical services, as it now does for children up to 18 years of age, patients older than 65 years, and pregnant women.

In his correspondence with URI Soča the Ombudsman pointed out the collision of the constitutional right to strike with the right to healthcare and the rights of persons with disabilities. “The current problems of persons with disabilities who in their distress turn not only to the Ombudsman but also to the media are certainly an example of the instance where a limitation of the physician’s strike would be justified. By no means can persons with disabilities and patients be hostages in a battle of power between the government and physicians, hence I expect those responsible to do everything in their power to ensure the respect of their rights. May I again recall the execution of rights deriving from the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which stipulates that contracting states must enable persons with disabilities an independent life and full cooperation in all areas of life as well as providing the right to an independent life and inclusion in the community,” stresses Ombudsman Svetina.

In early March, the Ombudsman received an answer from URI Soča, the message of which was that physicians will not change their way of work since supposedly, the Decree on the provision of medical services during a strike adopted by the government on 29 February 2024 is unlawful. “Such an answer is completely unacceptable and points to the arrogance and indifference of the leadership of URI Soča. Namely, the only body competent to judge this in Slovenia is the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia. In addition, from the human point of view, the only reasonable and expected thing to do is for the institutions, such as URI Soča, to respect the rights of persons with disabilities in any circumstances. Thus, I expect that the management of URI Soča acknowledge the rights of persons with disabilities and not only convey the positions of their strike committee,” adds Ombudsman Svetina, who in these dire times expects reason to prevail for the benefit of people.