In Slovenia they say, “Kar Je dobro se samo hvali”*, and this Central European republic makes good on the promise by offering a continental climate with warm summers and a Mediterranean feel on the coast, combined with the refreshingly crisp snowfall of the Alps.
Though it’s small, with a population of only 2.5m, Slovenia has a great deal to offer to the tourist, and particularly the health or medical tourist. From its capital Ljubljana to the major cities of Maribor, Celje, Kranj and Velenje, and the resorts of Portorož, Terme Čatež and Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia has a well-deserved reputation for medical advancement, safety, fluency in foreign languages and high standards in service and efficiency.
Slovene doctors train all over the world and are used to using state-of-the-art medical equipment. Basic principles of effectiveness, safety, timeliness, continuity and efficiency are at the heart of the Slovene medical system, and special emphasis is put on personally tailored treatment.
As part of the medical process, there’s a thorough diagnostic routine, and after treatment you can be sure of superior rehabilitation services.
The Legends of Slovenia
In the many thermal spas, a range of internal disorders and musculoskeletal conditions are treated. The therapeutic thermal and mineral springs are mostly located in the spas and health resorts in Pannonian Slovenia but can also be found at the coast and in Alpine Slovenia. According to legend, when the winged horse Pegasus landed on the ground, healing mineral water burst onto the surface. This water is called Donat Mg and has the highest magnesium content in the world.
Among the most well-known resorts is Rogaška Slatina, one of the oldest resorts in Europe, specialising in the treatment of the gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal system and rehabilitation programs. The rich mineral consistency of the Donat Mg mineral water from local sources is said to confer its healing power, and you can choose to experience its effects by taking a mineral bath or enjoying a drinking treatment designed to help you achieve better health and well-being.
At the Rogaška Medical Centre, holistic, professional and individual medical treatment is provided by experts in diagnostics, surgery, rejuvenation, beauty, nutrition, physical therapy and massage therapy. Beauty treatments performed by experts using natural cosmetics offer to eliminate the results of stress, improper nutrition and the pace of life, rejuvenating the body and soul through effective, non-invasive and pleasant treatments using the Afrodita cosmetics line.
One of the more unusual treatments available in Slovenia is ‘apitherapy’, a form of homeopathy using aromas from beehives to help cure asthma and all sorts of respiratory problems, while honey and wax are used for skin treatments.
Slovenia’s Specialisms
Specialisms of the Rogaška Medical facility include surgery to address problems with mobility in the arms and fingers, vascular surgery, and aesthetic plastic surgery, such as procedures on the skin, ears, eyelids, lips and hair. Also available are gynaecological procedures such as diagnostic hysteroscopy, biopsy and histological examination; laryngology to correct problems with breathing and sleep; orthopaedic services and more.
Rogaška Slatina also offers experienced massage therapists and revitalising saunas, where you can treat yourself to mixture of the beneficial effect of the mineral and thermal water and the intimacy of world-class relaxation services.
The beauty of the area invites you to enjoy the surrounding countryside—the promenade of the Spa Park in the heart of Rogaška Slatina offers the special charm of a mighty avenue of sycamores and horse chestnuts, leading to hiking trails which can take you right into the dramatic local peaks.
Elsewhere in Slovenia, the spa Terme Donelske Toplice specialises in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, while Terme Smarjeske Toplice is recommended for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system.
Famous Tourist Hot Spots
Other well-known spas include Thalasso Strunjan; Terme Catez, famous for its rarefied air; and Terme Olimia, set in untouched natural surroundings and recommended for rest and quiet, while Portoroz, a city situated on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea, is a famous tourist attraction, renowned for its high-quality modern airport and hotels, yacht marina, sandy beaches (the only ones in Slovenia) and casinos.
Just half an hour from the capital in the south-eastern part of Slovenia is the popular spa resort Terme Catez. Surrounded by picturesque forests and vineyards, at 145 meters above sea level it’s famous for its beneficial oxygen-rich air. Since the resort is adjacent to the Croatian border, it’s also within easy reach of Zagreb.
Perhaps it’s Slovenia’s approach to systematically including wellness and mindfulness programmes into a multitude of treatments, as well as its natural assets, expertise and uniqueness which makes it increasingly popular with the health and medical tourist.
*That which is good, praises itself.
