In that context Goluza said that the HLK would work on reinforcing the legal protection of doctors and help them in their professional development and in improving their living standards.
To this end, the Chamber has already concluded an agreement with a commercial bank that offers housing loans to HLK members with lower interest rates, ranging from 3.3% to 3.5%. This has helped 5,300 doctors-beneficiaries of that credit line to save 700 million kuna on aggregate, Goluza said at the opening of the chamber's branch office in the seaport of Rijeka.
He added said that HLK representatives had held talks with the mayors of 10 cities and towns in Croatia that could allot plots to build houses or flats for doctors under more favourable terms and conditions. Likewise, the Chamber and the City of Osijek are conducting talks on a plot for the construction of a building with 30 flats for doctors.
The HLK has enabled the absorption of HRK 30 million from EU funds for the professional training of family medicine specialists.
The chamber is set to cooperate with specialists abroad who can help young promising doctors to undergo training abroad and return to Croatia upon acquiring the know-how in specific areas, Goluza said.
The membership of the chamber is obligatory for doctors who provide healthcare services in the national health system.
The monthly fee is HRK 125, and retired doctors pay 60 kuna monthly, according to information on the HLK web site.
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.42)