PRIME MINISTER RACAN: HEALTH REFORM MUST BE IMPLEMENTED

ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - The reform of Croatia's health system is a necessity because in comparison to other countries in transition, such as Slovenia, we are eight years behind, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said after a meeting with Health Minister Ana Stavljenic Rukavina at the Health Ministry on Monday. The health system in Croatia currently guarantees a lot of rights which citizens cannot exercise and in the future it will guarantee a narrower scope of health insurance rights but all will be able to exercise those rights, Racan said. Stressing that the concept of health reform had been adopted, Racan said that some segments of the reform, which were being drafted, would soon be discussed by the government. The government is not satisfied with the participation of the media in this "project which is of strategic importance for the state." The public needs to be explained in more detail what is the target of the reform so that it could be understood and accepted, Racan said. Also discussed during the premier's visit to the Ministry was the rehabilitation of the health system and the settling of a 4.3- million-kuna debt the new government has inherited from the old one. "We have managed to settle the largest part (of the debt), and the remaining amount must be settled by the end of this year," the Prime Minister said, stressing the importance of preventing the incurring of further losses in the health system as they could be covered only by tax-payers' salaries and pensions, which were not very high. Asked whether there would be enough financial means to carry out the reform, Racan said there was not enough money for health, let alone the reform, however, the reform had to be carried out. "The reform must be carried out or we are doomed," the Prime Minister said, adding part of the funds to be used for the reform would have to be borrowed. (hina) rml