PREMIER DISCUSSES HEALTH PROBLEMS WITH PHYSICIANS

ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa held talks on Friday with representatives of physicians' associations, and announced measures towards ensuring significant functions in the health system. The physicians advocated urgent resolving of critical points in the health system. The Prime Minister received Croatian Physicians' Chamber (HLK) president Egidio Cepulic, Croatian Physicians' Corps (HZZ) president Dubravko Orlic, and HLK Profession Committee chairman and Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO) administrative board representative Josip Jelic. According to a Government statement, the health representatives informed Matesa of the very difficult conditions in the Croatian health system. Matesa promised efficient state measures to temporarily ensure health functioning, and called on the health representatives to reform the health system as the only way to prevent crises from recurring. The representatives accepted this proposal and agreed the physicians' expertise was the most important motivation in making and implementing new health politics. Also present at the meeting were Health Minister Zeljko Reiner, the Prime Minister's counsellor Stjepan Turek, and the HZZO's director Branko Malenica. (hina) it jn/ha