ZAGREB, March 28, 2019 – Representatives of autism associations gathered outside the government building on Thursday to warn about the problem of inadequate care for persons with autism demanding the establishment of a task force to include representatives of the relevant ministry and parents and caretakers of autistic persons.
The president of the Croatian Autism Federation, Lidija Penko, told the press that parents and caretakers of persons with autistic disorders need a platform to resolve problems that have piled up in the care system.
According to the Croatian Public Health Institute, there are 3,000 autistic persons in Croatia, but our estimates indicate that this number is much higher – about 20,000 people have non-specific disorders related to the illness, Penko said.
Previous assessments show one in 100 people are autistic, however, according to more recent figures one in 60 people have autism, Penko said adding that one in four boys are autistic.
She also underscored that a new autistic centre was opened in Osijek.
Health Minister Milan Kujundžić, who received representatives of associations, promised on Thursday his ministry would try to improve the health care conditions for autistic patients.
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