ZAGREB, Aug 26 (Hina) - The 2003 state budget will include about 205 million euros more for the health system than in 2002, Health Minister Andro Vlahusic said at a news conference Monday.
ZAGREB, Aug 26 (Hina) - The 2003 state budget will include about 205
million euros more for the health system than in 2002, Health
Minister Andro Vlahusic said at a news conference Monday. #L#
Even though the government has approved that the Croatian Health
Insurance Institute (HZZO) takes out a loan of 112 million euros to
settle debts incurred in the health system, additional funds are
required to make the implementation of reforms possible, Vlahusic
said.
Last year health institutions owed more than 137 million euros and
that is why a loan was necessary, he added.
The budget for health system will amount to about 1.93 billion euros
next year of which about 100 million euros will be ensured from its
own revenue through the supplementary health insurance.
Health reforms foresee a complete restructuring of the health
system, a reduced number of employed in the health system, a reduced
number of health clinics and the privatisation of the basic health
insurance.
Commenting on the settlement between the families of patients who
died as a result of faulty dialysis machines and the Baxter company
which produced the machines, Vlahusic said that he was pleased that
the settlement eventuated and that the government would make its
decision within the next month whether it will sue Baxter, make a
deal or withdraw from the proceedings.
The government will also decide about procedures to be taken
against the Pliva company that was responsible for several
violations in the Baxter case, Minister Vlahusic said.
(hina) sp sb