ZAGREB, February 6, 2018 – Health Minister Milan Kujundžić on Tuesday said Croatia’s position on the Euro Health Consumer Index (EHCI) would be different once all objective parameters are delivered but that this doesn’t relieve the ministry of responsibility and that it values any criticism.
According to a recent survey of European health care systems in 35 countries through 45 indicators covering patient rights, how informed they are, access to health care and medication, the outcome of treatment and so on, Croatia ranked 26th among 35 countries, slipping seven places compared to 2016.
Attending a ceremony marking 15 years of a Zagreb children’s polyclinic, Kujundžić told reporters that the survey was a cross section of Croatia’s health care system over the past 6-7 years. Some parameters used indicate that Croatia has weaknesses, but numerous parameters, for example about the mortality rate among cancer patients and infants, were not submitted well from Croatia, he claimed.
He added that the picture about Croatia’s health care system would look different “when all those parameters are objectively delivered.” However, that in no way exempts the ministry from having to amend “all those things that show that we are weak” and from heeding criticism, he added.
Commenting on unpaid overtime for doctors and other health workers, Kujundžić said that he was conducting talks with everyone and that talks were held with the doctors’ union, which has the largest claims.
That, however, is a financially and legally serious problem that needs to be resolved at the level of the ministries of public administration, finance, judiciary and labour. They, Kujundžić underlined, will respect whatever is decided and is in line with the law.
