OPEN SOCIETY CROATIA DONATES 800,000 IN HEALTH SYSTEM IN 1998

ZAGREB, Dec 4 (Hina) - In 1998, the Institute Open Society Croatia donated US$800,000 in Croatia's health system, within its medical programme. Between 1992 - when the programme was founded - and today, three million dollars have been invested in the health system, Danica Eterovic, director of the Open Society medical programme, told reporters on Friday. The Institute has so far financed numerous programmes concerning public health, drug abuse prevention, care for elderly people, purchase of equipment for medical institutions and professional improvement abroad for young doctors. All donations are allocated through public competition and decisions are made by a special commission consisting of medical experts. This year, ultrasound equipment worth US$140,000 was donated to Zagreb's clinical centre Merkur. The neurological casualty ward in the clinical centre "Sestre milosrdnice" was provided with equipment worth $129,000. About 30 young doctors from Croatia attended seminars in the United States, said Eterovic. She called on the Ministries of Health, and Labour and Social Welfare, with which the Institute has not cooperated so far, to join in drawing up future medical projects. (hina) mm rml