In Movember 2017, the Court of Audit issued an audit report addressing the issue of prostate cancer. One year later, in 2018, the Court reviewed the changes in this field. We are well pleased that the effects of our demands and recommendations are already evident, which will thus contribute to more efficient treatment of urology patients in future. In 2018, the University Medical Centre Ljubljana acquired a robotic system for robot-assisted prostate cancer surgeries, moreover, the number of urologists within the public healthcare network increased by 6.5 percent compared to 2017 and almost by 10 percent according to 2016. In addition to 11 posts for urology specialists that were published already during the period covered by the audit, there were 14 new posts for urology specialists in training published after the completion of the audit, which will further increase the number of urologists within the healthcare network. Last year’s audit namely established that the lack of urologists is one of key reasons for long waiting periods in the field of urology.
Beside positive effects, we also welcome cooperation among stakeholders. A constructive dialogue among auditees, civil society and experts will bring benefit to solving the problems in the concerned field and at the same time bring about more quality treatment of users of healthcare services and more efficient use of public funds.