The Healthcare System
ZZZS — Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije — the national health insurance institute. Public health insurance; covers residents who pay contributions.
ZZK kartica — zdravstvena zavarovalniška kartica — health insurance card. Present this at public healthcare appointments. Not required at Legebitra.
Izbrani zdravnik — your registered doctor / GP. The doctor you have chosen and registered with through ZZZS. First point of contact for most public healthcare needs.
Napotnica — referral. Required to see a specialist (specialist) through the public healthcare system at no charge. Your izbrani zdravnik issues these.
UKC — Univerzitetni klinični center — University Medical Centre (Ljubljana). The main reference hospital.
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni — Clinic for Infectious Diseases. Part of UKC Ljubljana. Where PrEP is managed and PEP is available 24 hours.
Urgenca — emergency department / A&E.
Ambulanta — outpatient clinic / GP surgery.
Lekarna — pharmacy. Hospital pharmacy: bolnišnična lekarna.
Key Medical Terms
HIV — HIV (Humani imunodeficientni virus). Same abbreviation as English.
SPB — Spolno prenosljive bolezni — sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Older term: SPI.
PPI — Profilaksa po izpostavljenosti — PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). Healthcare staff also understand "PEP."
PrEP — Profilaksa pred izpostavljenostjo — same as English
Gonoreja — gonorrhoea
Klamidija — chlamydia
Sifilis — syphilis
Hepatitis — hepatitis
Krvni test / Krvna preiskava — blood test
Rezultat — result
Recept — prescription
Swab Terms — Three-Site Testing
Bris — swab
Bris žrela / faringealni bris — throat swab. For gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the throat.
Rektalni bris / bris anusa — rectal swab. For gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the rectum.
Uretralni bris — urethral swab. For gonorrhoea and chlamydia in the urethra.
Urin — urine sample. Urine alone will not detect throat or rectal infections.
To request all three: "Želim bris žrela, rektalni bris in uretralni bris." ("I want a throat swab, rectal swab, and urethral swab.")
Key Phrases
At testing: "Želim se testirati na SPB, vključno z brisom žrela, rektuma in sečnice." "I want to test for STIs, including throat, rectal, and urethral swabs."
"Redno imam receptivni analni seks in oralni seks." "I regularly have receptive anal sex and oral sex." (Clinical context for three-site testing)
At Urgenca for PEP: "Imel/a sem tvegan spolni stik za HIV in potrebujem profilakso po izpostavljenosti." "I had a risky sexual contact for HIV and I need post-exposure prophylaxis."
"Potrebujem PEP za HIV. Minilo je manj kot 72 ur." "I need PEP for HIV. It has been less than 72 hours."
For PrEP: "Zanima me PrEP. Imam povečano tveganje za HIV." "I'm interested in PrEP. I have an increased risk of HIV."
For vaccines: "Bi se rad/a cepil/a proti ošpicam opičjim / hepatitisu A / hepatitisu B." "I would like to be vaccinated against Mpox / hepatitis A / hepatitis B."
General: "Ne govorim dobro slovensko — ali kdo govori angleško?" "I don't speak Slovenian well — does anyone speak English?" (English is widely spoken in Ljubljana healthcare settings.)
Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 112 | Emergency services (ambulance, police, fire) |
| 01 430 51 44 | Legebitra (Ljubljana) |
| 01 522 22 00 | UKC Ljubljana Infekcijska klinika (PEP) |
See also: Legebitra testing | PEP emergency