MINISTER: CHANGES TO 2001 BUDGET INCLUDE CUTS IN HEALTH ALLOCATIONS

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - Allocations for the Croatian Health Insurance Institute have been decreased by 300 million kuna in the latest draft budget for 2001, Croatian Health Minister Ana Stavljenic Rukavina said at a meeting on the quality of the health service in Zagreb on Friday. The reduction will reflect on social allowances (sick pay, maternity leave etc.), which will be cut by five to ten percent, she said. A total of 900 million kuna is paid for maternity leave allowances annually. The maternity leave of a large number of women using those allowances lasted up to three years, and allowances were also paid to unemployed mothers, she said. Also decreased will be the health insurance of foreign nationals. The latest draft budget, which the Croatian government adopted yesterday, is decreased by 2.5 billion kuna in relation to the original draft. Stavljenic Rukavina said there would be no construction of new health institutions with budgetary funds next year and attempts would be made to secure the money from donations. However, the reconstruction of health institutions which were destroyed or damaged in the war will continue with the help of loans from the World Bank and the Council of Europe. The minister said she was not dissatisfied with the allocated funds, given that the budget was primarily aimed at reducing the public spending and stimulating employment, which she said would ultimately reflect on the health system as well. (hina) rml