HZZO has sent a directive to hospitals prohibiting specialists from issuing recommendations for sick leave. From now on, specialists can only do this if explicitly authorized by the selected primary healthcare physician, as stated in the directive, according to daily press reports.
The directive has caused dissatisfaction among specialists, who say that it is neither their job to open nor close sick leaves, but rather to recommend treatment methods that will aid in the patient’s recovery. Doctors believe that this unacceptable directive is a result of attempts to reduce the sick leave rate, which has been very high in Croatia for years.
