Dzakula, Aleksandar; Vočanec, Dorja; Banadinovic, Maja; Vajagic, Maja; Lončarek, Karmen; Lukačevic Lovrenčic, Iva; Radin, Dagmar; Rechel, Bernd; (2021) Croatia: Health System Review. Health systems in transition, 23 (2). pp. 1-146. ISSN 1817-6119 https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4667434
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https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4667434
Abstract
This analysis of the Croatian health system reviews developments in its organization and governance, financing, provision of services, health reforms and health system performance. Croatia has a mandatory social health insurance system with nearly universal population coverage and a generous benefits package. Although per capita spending is low when compared to other EU countries, the share of public spending as a proportion of current health expenditure is high and out-of-pocket payments are low. There are sufficient physical and human resources overall, but some more remote areas, such as the islands off the Adriatic coast and rural areas in central and eastern Croatia, face shortages. While the Croatian health system provides a high degree of financial protection, more can be achieved in terms of improving health outcomes. Several mortality rates are among the highest in the EU, including mortality from cancer, preventable causes (including lung cancer, alcohol-related causes and road traffic deaths) and air pollution. Quality monitoring systems are underdeveloped, but available indicators on quality of care suggest much scope for improvement. Another challenge is waiting times, which were already long in the years before 2020 and are bound to have increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department | Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Health Services Research and Policy |
PubMed ID | 34994691 |
Elements ID | 183187 |