The Croatian Association of Concessionary Primary Health Care stated on Wednesday that the new Health Care Act has no alternative, no matter how much interest groups try to misinform the public, especially emphasizing that independent Member of Parliament Mirando Mrsić is the last one who has the right to accuse them of spending public money.
The new law introduces a system of private practices in primary health care instead of the previous concessions, and the new model will help improve the quality indicators of health care, where Croatia is currently at the bottom of the European Union, representatives of the concessionaires’ association emphasized at a press conference.
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The association of concessionaires responded to the loudest opponents of the new law, especially independent MP Mirando Mrsić and SDP’s Željko Jovanović.
In response to Mrsić’s criticism that the new law undermines the foundations of public solidarity health care and the social state, the president of the association, Josipa Rodić, stated that she is “sorry that colleague Mrsić resorted to absolutely irrational comments.”
“He is the last one who can tell us anything about spending public money because the situation with his wife’s former company is well known. This is a precedent that has never happened – that a private company owed HZZO, and it was a debt of over 10 million kuna and a write-off of 2.7 million in interest. That is the amount of money that my practice does not generate even in ten years of work,” Rodić emphasized.
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The request for an extension of the public discussion on the proposed law, submitted by SDP’s Željko Jovanović, was deemed irrational as work on this law has been ongoing since September 2017.
“No delays are acceptable; everyone had a month of consultation to express their objections,” says Rodić.
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After the Ministry of Health reviews the submitted comments, it is expected that the proposal for the new Health Care Act will be sent to parliamentary procedure in June.
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The Association of Concessionaires is convinced that the new model will improve indicators of quality and accessibility of health care in Croatia, given that last year’s European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) survey showed dismal results.
According to EHCI, the Croatian health system ranked 26th among 35 European countries last year, which means Croatia fell seven places compared to the results from 2016.
EHCI analyzes the health systems of 35 countries through 45 indicators, monitoring the area of respect for patient rights and their information, availability of treatment, health care and medicines, and treatment outcomes.
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Rodić pointed out that the top ten highest quality health systems in EU countries, recognized and rated by patients themselves, provide primary health care through a model of private contracted health professionals in the service of public health.
The best health systems in Europe are those of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg. In none of them, Rodić emphasizes, are there health centers.
“Contracting primary health care with private doctors has long been implemented by EU countries, and therefore the adoption of the new law has no alternative,” Rodić concluded.
