ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - A vice-president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Zeljka Antunovic, said on Saturday that in the first 100 days of the government's term the Health Ministry worsened the situation in public
health.
ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - A vice-president of the Social Democratic
Party (SDP), Zeljka Antunovic, said on Saturday that in the first 100
days of the government's term the Health Ministry worsened the
situation in public health.#L#
While Health Minister Andrija Hebrang was re-introducing a set of
patient services, the Health Insurance Agency (HZZO) was announcing
restrictions in public health, Antunovic said at a news conference.
In the first three months of this year, hospitals were granted funds
that barely cover staff salaries, while the deadline for the payment
of debts to pharmacies was extended from 120 to 185 days, she said.
"The HZZO will not refund money to hospitals which last year made a
surplus of services totalling 340 million kuna and insufficient funds
will force hospitals to reduce the number of admissions, which will
result in more patients on waiting lists," Antunovic said.
Hospitals which did not spend all of their last year funds, because
they provided less medical services than planned, will continue to
receive the same funds, Antunovic said, drawing attention to the case
of the Gospic hospital, which is headed by parliament deputy speaker
Darko Milinovic. Last year, that hospital was granted 24 million kuna
and issued bills for medical services totalling only 14 million kuna,
while the rest of the money "disappeared", Antunovic said.
The SDP official called for gradual reorganisation and classification
of hospitals to ensure the development of the most needed medical
services. The former authorities have started that process, but
announcements from the Health Ministry go in another direction, she
said.
Commenting on accusations about revenge-seeking in public health,
levelled against the former government, Antunovic said the SDP refused
any further politicising of the issue and believed that replacements
carried out during the former government's term were completely
justified.
(Hina) rml