He said that in its first 100 days in office, the government managed to cover for the short term the losses in the health system.
Speaking on World Health Day 2012, which is observed today, the minister said this year's topic was "Ageing and Health", adding that old age was not a disease and that retiring did not mean resting.
Croatians are quite a healthy people but have to work on bad habits such as smoking, alcohol and drugs, he said, underlining the importance of health education and proper eating habits from as early as kindergarten.
Perinatal mortality in Croatia is the same as in the world, Croatia has an excellent vaccination programme but life expectancy is 10-15 years shorter than in the European Union, Ostojic said.
From the age of 20 to 50, there is an epidemic of chronic noninfectious diseases caused by sedentary living and tumours, he warned.
The most frequent are cardiovascular diseases, with one in two Croats suffering from them and dying of heart attack, followed by tumours, he said.
Asked by the press if he would consider the opinion of the Church regarding the artificial insemination bill, Ostojic said a public discussion should be held on this issue and that the opinions of all associations and citizens were welcome.
Asked again if he would take into account the opinion of the Church, the minister said he had already talked and was talking with everyone interested in the bill.