The auditors looked at the existing preventive programmes for colorectal cancer screening, the first phase of which was launched back in 2019. Its main aim is to catch the disease early at a potentially curable stage and reduce mortality. For example, in 2023, 52% of people in the 50-75 age group underwent the test for occult bleeding in the stool. Since the start of the programme, the number of people tested has been increasing. However, participation rates of 65-70% of those in the at-risk age group are needed to reduce colorectal cancer mortality significantly. "Due to the lack of data, the setting of national health policy on prevention in our country is more on the level of divination than facts. Many deaths could have been prevented by catching the diagnosis early and setting prevention rules based on comprehensive and real data," emphasised the chairman of the auditors Ľubomír Andrassy. "In addition to more state activity to motivate people to undergo check-ups, all of us should realise the importance of prevention. We have no problem going for a car service once a year, but we significantly neglect taking care of our health," added Ľ. Andrassy. He also pointed out that early diagnosis, among other things, reduces the cost of treatment for the patient. According to the national auditors, the Ministry of Health should annually evaluate individual preventive check-up programmes and compare their number with the number of newly detected cancer cases and the costs of early or late detection of this serious disease.

Several institutions in Slovakia are involved in health prevention. They receive funding for this agenda, which is divided into various programmes. It is only in the 2022 statistics that funds for the outpatient sector earmarked for preventive medical check-ups are reported as funding for prevention. "Eurostat data show that between 2017 and 2022, Slovakia spent the least on prevention compared to the Visegrad Group countries, averaging only 1.21% of total health spending. The highest amount was reported in 2022, namely 173 million euros," the head of the national auditors said. The Public Health Office of the Slovak Republic and its regional branches have an important role in primary prevention and healthy lifestyle education. They have received almost 382 million euros for the general programme of prevention and health protection in 2017-2023, while this amount includes budgeted funds for the general operation or salaries of employees, without the possibility of evaluating the purpose of their use for individual preventive projects. In the seven years audited, 940 thousand euros were allocated for another program, such as drug issues, and 886 thousand euros for the National Prevention Program. In response to the increasing number of cancer cases, the National Cancer Institute was established in 2018, also focusing on prevention and screening. During the reporting period, it received €3 million for action plans under the National Cancer Program.

Health insurers are also an important element in the field of prevention, having paid more than €120 million for preventive examinations of adults by general practitioners between 2017 and 2023. The scope and reimbursement depended on the age of the insured person and ranged from €25 to €75. The number of preventive check-ups has been on an upward trend in recent years, with a slight decrease only in 2020, also due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19. In 2023, one in three citizens who were eligible in that year had a preventive check-up with an adult general practitioner. The target set out in the country's strategic documents is that at least 60 % of adults should have received preventive care from a general practitioner by 2030. In Slovakia, non-governmental organisations are an important part of prevention and education. In 2023, the Ministry of Health did not follow action plans nor provide full funding for cancer screening awareness activities. Supporting the active involvement of the third sector can be considered a purposeful and effective use of resources for prevention, which helps prevent serious health problems that significantly impact the state budget and public resources in the health sector.