GOVERNMENT TO TAKE LOAN TO STABILISE HEALTH SYSTEM

ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - In an effort to stabilise the situation in Croatia's health system, in agreement with the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO), the Croatian government is soon to take out a loan of US$0.124 billion, Health Minister Andro Vlahusic announced at a session of the parliament Committee for Labour, Social Politics and Health.#L# The loan will be earmarked to cover hospital debts to suppliers which have exceeded 150 days of the due date of payment, allowances for doctors' salaries employed in regions of special state concern and for redundancy payments in the Health Sector, Vlahusic said. According to HZZO head Zdravko Loncarec, the loan should pay off US$93.28 million in debts that the Health System owes the Croatian Institute for Pension Insurance as will be funds collected for additional health insurance. Due to a decrease in budget funds earmarked for the health system at the beginning of the year, hospital budgets were decreased by a total of US$99.50 million and so many hospitals are faced with a difficult situation. In addition to rehabilitation, hospitals will undergo reorganisation and job classification, Vlahusic said. As of July 1, the HZZO will not extend contracts with doctors over the age of 65, which will open job opportunities for young doctors while redundant staff - mostly non-medical staff - will be receive severance pays. One novelty foreseen is that women that require artificial insemination will be able to obtain this at the government's cost, it was said at the session. Snjezana Biga-Friganovic, the president of the parliament committee pointed to the violations of the law in many health institutions and the lack of supervision. From the beginning of next year, a new law will be implemented regulating patients' rights, health insurance, the medical profession, pharmaceutical profession and nursing. (hina) sp sb