The government’s decision, under which HZZO terminates contracts with the majority of private healthcare institutions in polyclinic-consultative healthcare, is contrary to the Healthcare Development Strategy, and the Ministry’s policy will lead to a collapse of the healthcare system, assessed the HDZ.
Namely, according to the Health Care Act and the Patient Rights Act, healthcare must be territorially and volumetrically accessible, which will not be possible with the new restrictive measures of HZZO. Moreover, waiting lists for polyclinic-consultative healthcare services will be extended, and this is one of the most unpleasant facts for patients, stated the HDZ Health Committee.
They remind that until now, HZZO has annually contracted healthcare services with the private sector worth about 500 million kuna, which is only 2.5 percent of all HZZO expenses.
The HDZ Health Committee strongly opposes the decision and warns that the participation of the private healthcare sector is an important part of healthcare in Croatia, especially quality and well-organized healthcare, which they assess is clearly not and will not be the case.
It also emphasizes that HZZO’s contracting with private polyclinic-consultative activities must be transparent, in accordance with equal and fair conditions for all, and not just for the favored.
The incompetence and improvisation of this Government is also evident from the decision to introduce VAT on private sector healthcare services, which they withdrew after just a few days. This most clearly speaks of the complete disorientation of the Government, claim the HDZ Health Committee.
If the Ministry of Health continues with such a policy, a complete collapse of the healthcare system can be expected, the Committee believes, noting that the healthcare system in Croatia consumes about 18 percent of the state budget.
