HEALTH MINISTER REJECTS HDZ'S ACCUSATIONS

ZAGREB, Sep 3 (Hina) - Croatian Health Minister Andro Vlahusic on Tuesday dismissed accusations and estimates of the disastrous situation in the health system claimed by Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) vice president Andrija Hebrang. Vlahusic said that the former HDZ government was guilty for the current debts in the health system because it abolished depreciation. #L# "Hebrang's claim that 0.810 billion euros was missing is correct, however, this is from 1994 when depreciation was abolished following a decision by the HDZ government at the time when Hebrang was the Health Minister," Vlahusic told Croatian Radio. He added that a year and a half ago the new government reinstated the institute of depreciation in the health system. Minister Vlahusic estimated that the major part of the debt and greatest damage were committed because of the abolition of depreciation but also because of the lack of investment into premises and equipment. "This government came across debts of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance amounting to 356 million euros. Of this amount more than a half was paid immediately through loans while the other half was settled last month," Vlahusic explained. He announced that 16.32 million euros would be paid in September to staff in the health system in areas of special state concern. He added that by the end of September or early October, wholesalers in medicaments, suppliers of medicines, medical equipment, power and food supplies would be paid about EUR96 million. Speaking about the case of the head of the Vukovar General Hospital, Dr. Vesna Bosanac, Vlahusic said that the government was grateful to Dr. Bosanac for all that she did in the Homeland War but that war heroes need to be responsible for their actions or misuse if these occurred. (hina) sp it sb