VUKOVAR HOSPITAL'S HEAD REJECTS STATEMENTS OF HZZO

VUKOVAR, March 4 (Hina) - In a press release on Tuesday the chief- of-staff of Vukovar General Hospital, Dr. Vesna Bosanac, denied claims made at a press conference on Monday organised by the Croatian Heath Insurance Institute (HZZO) relating to the poor financial situation at the hospital and that the hospital's board was responsible for that state. #L# Since 1997 to date the Vukovar General Hospital has operated consciously in every department and in line with legislative regulations, Dr. Bosanac's press statement said. She added that since the time of peaceful reintegration, fixed costs for salaries amounted to 98 per cent of all operational costs. Dr. Bosanac said that it was true that in 2002 the hospital received 42.8 million kuna (5.59 million euros) as well as the fact that she did not cover the said amount with invoices. She justifies this action by the fact that the hospital still has not been reconstructed in full and so cannot offer complete health protection to its full scope to cover 49,503 beneficiaries. Even though the hospital is operating in a limited capacity it was necessary to conclude employment contracts for doctors and experts from surrounding hospitals, she said justifying this with the need for complete health care. Task conducted on contracts for expert who are not employed full-time in Vukovar hospital during 2002, required 1.1 million kuna (0.14 million euros), she said in the press release. "The incorrect data and rebukes brought out at the press conference by the HZZO point out just how little understanding the relevant institutions have for the difficult circumstances that the Vukovar hospital is faced with and in which citizens live since the peaceful reintegration of that most eastern region of Vukovar-Srijem County," the press release said. (hina) sp ms sb