Minister of Health and Social Welfare Darko Milinović expressed today his dissatisfaction with a recent letter from HZZO to hospitals, stating that it has created “unnecessary ambiguities” regarding whether specialist doctors can recommend sick leave to patients.
"This is an unnecessary letter from HZZO that has introduced ambiguities into the existing law. I clearly say – this is a yellow card for HZZO, such letters that introduce ambiguities are unnecessary", said Minister Milinović in Gospić."It is clear to everyone, including specialist doctors, that they can and must recommend rest if it is part of the patient’s therapy, and the primary healthcare doctor is the one who decides whether to issue a sick leave or not and for how long", said Milinović.
When asked whether this directive would be withdrawn, Milinović replied that there is no need to withdraw it as it clarifies some other matters related to the law on mandatory health insurance. Some media reported today that the HZZO directive instructs hospital specialists not to recommend sick leave to an insured person unless explicitly authorized to do so by the primary care doctor. This directive was sent from HZZO in early February and, according to media reports, has shocked hospital doctors. (H)
