ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted a new health insurance law, its main features being the introduction of two kinds of insurance: compulsory and additional or voluntary insurance. Sick leave allowance
will be cut from the current 80 to 70 percent of the monthly salary. Under the law, the duration of sick leave will be categorised, and the longest sick leave for some diseases would be determined by the Health Ministry in cooperation with the Doctors' Association. Commissions of doctors would be in charge of controlling the abuse of the right to sick leave. The right to exemption from paying participation fees is extended to cover disabled war veterans, seriously wounded during the war, and chronic mental patients. Participation fees will also not be paid for the preventive treatment of mental diseases. No participation fees will be paid for health services for children unde
ZAGREB, Oct 19 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament on Friday adopted a
new health insurance law, its main features being the introduction
of two kinds of insurance: compulsory and additional or voluntary
insurance.
Sick leave allowance will be cut from the current 80 to 70 percent of
the monthly salary.
Under the law, the duration of sick leave will be categorised, and
the longest sick leave for some diseases would be determined by the
Health Ministry in cooperation with the Doctors' Association.
Commissions of doctors would be in charge of controlling the abuse
of the right to sick leave.
The right to exemption from paying participation fees is extended
to cover disabled war veterans, seriously wounded during the war,
and chronic mental patients. Participation fees will also not be
paid for the preventive treatment of mental diseases.
No participation fees will be paid for health services for children
under the age of 18. Other categories of those exempted from paying
participation fees will depend on their property qualifications.
The new health insurance law will take effect on 1 January 2002.
The new law on child's allowance will go in force on the same date.
This law, also adopted by the Sabor today, envisages the right to
child allowance for children under 19 attending regular
education.
Children suffering from serious diseases will be covered by this
allowance until they turn 27.
Undergraduates will no longer be covered by this allowance.
According to first estimates, about 25,000 undergraduates at
colleges will be stripped of this right in line with the new law.
The government should regulate the issue of scholarship for such
students within the next 60 days.
(hina) ms