History

The establishment of the Hygienic Institute in Ljubljana in 1923 was a significant milestone for the Novo mesto district. Following its initiative, a state school polyclinic was set up in Novo mesto in 1930. As a vibrant educational and cultural hub with five institutions, Novo mesto truly recognized the need for a dedicated health center to care for its students. When a children’s dispensary opened in 1936, the two facilities combined to create the Health Center Novo mesto, which was conveniently located within the new primary school.

The center was thoughtfully housed in a modern building designed to meet current hygiene standards. The municipal administration generously allocated space, dividing it with a wooden partition into a consultation room and a waiting area. The Hygienic Institute of Ljubljana and the local municipality jointly financed the furnishings and medical equipment, with the city also taking care of heating and lighting costs. Additional expenses were supported by the annual state budget, ensuring the center’s continued operation.

The State School Polyclinic was initially overseen by Dr. Slava Kristan-Lunaček, a physician affiliated with the Ljubljana School Polyclinic, who provided services in Novo mesto on a weekly basis. In 1936, the leadership of the Health Center was assumed by Dr. Anči Konvalinka-Tavčar, a medical professional from the Institute for Maternal and Child Health Protection in Ljubljana, who also visited Novo mesto weekly. Beginning in April 1931, public health nurse Ana Eržen was engaged as a professional support at the Health Center.

In the year 1940, when the Health Center was compelled to relocate to the private residence of Mr. Matko Malovič, a resident of Novo mesto, preliminary discussions were already in progress between the Hygienic Institute in Ljubljana and the municipality of Novo mesto concerning the construction of a new health center. However, owing to the circumstances of World War II, the implementation of this plan was never realized. 

Novo mesto served as the cultural and educational hub of the Dolenjska region and was home to five educational institutions: a girls' public school, a boys’ public school, a grammar school, a civic school, and the girls’ civic school operated by the Sisters of Notre Dame in Šmihel. Consequently, establishing a polyclinic was of paramount importance for the health protection of students. The health activities conducted by the center predominantly involved systematic examinations of schoolchildren and outpatient services. Additionally, the State School Polyclinic possessed its own pharmacy, which dispensed free medication to impoverished pupils and issued prescriptions to pupils from more affluent backgrounds.

World War II and the subsequent developments in 1945 had a profound impact on healthcare. Following the war, in comparison to 1939, the healthcare system began evolving from modest remnants primarily consisting of private practices and a limited number of public healthcare institutions. A significant portion of medical staff had perished during the war or emigrated, and newly qualified personnel were in short supply. It was only by 1948 that the number of healthcare workers approached pre-war levels.

The development of healthcare was closely connected with the new post-war social conditions and the evolution of healthcare and insurance laws. In 1945, the regulations from the pre-war social insurance system were still in place.

In Novo mesto, most private practices kept operating and took on new roles until public clinics were set up. The public health center, which has been in operation since 1936, also continued its work. Responsibilities and organization were managed by the district and local people's committees, which appointed district and local doctors. From existing clinics and sanitary stations, a district health center—the Health Center—was formed.

As the system transitioned from centralized health management to a more self-managed social system, the outpatient and polyclinic institution, Zdravstveni dom Novo mesto, was organized at the municipal level. It was officially established by the decision of the District People’s Committee (OLO) Novo mesto, document no. I-II-95-1-55 (1955).

Subsequently, in 1962, the autonomous healthcare units — namely, the health stations of Straža, Šentjernej, and Žužemberk — along with the dental polyclinic, were consolidated into the Health Center. Additionally, the oncology station was officially closed on June 30, 1964.

The reorganization of primary healthcare was thoughtfully implemented in a coordinated manner, with municipalities working independently yet systematically. This period marked a significant boost in medical staff. Between 1952 and 1962, the number of healthcare workers in primary care within the Novo mesto municipality increased to 64. The makeup of the workforce also evolved as newly trained doctors, dentists, nurses, medical technicians, and other healthcare professionals began entering the system from various medical faculties and health schools. After 1961, a closer collaboration was fostered between the municipal health center and the regional hospital in Novo mesto. Work programs and budgets were aligned to ensure more effective cooperation at the regional health center and among municipal health insurance institutions.