Croatia: Hundreds of doctors protest poor working conditions

about 1,500 doctors protested today in Zagreb to denounce what they consider to be an unsustainable situation of public health and poor working and salary conditions in Croatia.

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The demonstrators, gathered under the motto “SOS from Croatian Health” and coming from all parts of the country, they marched through the streets of the center of the capital, many in white coats, to the headquarters of the Government, where they demanded a solution to these problems.

They asked the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, to “save Croatian healthcare” with quick steps because “tomorrow will be too late”, when diagnosing that the sector suffers “chronic problems, but the situation is acute”according to the Croatian portal Index.

Several thousand protesters and more than 1,500 doctors from all over the country gathered in Zagreb to demand better salaries, better working conditions and a significant increase in investments in the health sector. (Photo by Denis LOVROVIC / AFP) (DENIS LOVROVIC /)

“The system has reached the brink of collapse”was one of the messages of the protest, which insisted that the situation is bad for both professionals and patients and asked the authorities for an appropriate response.

The five main Croatian medical associations, organizers of the protest, warn that public health is at risk of collapse due to the departure of many doctors and nurses abroad due to poor working conditions.

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According to data from unions in the sector, one in three doctors emigrates abroad, and there are currently some 2,000 doctors missing throughout the country, 12% of the total staff of physicians in both public and private health.

Some 4,000 nurses are also missing, with a total workforce of 38,500.

Medical associations indicate that some 50 municipalities, especially on the Adriatic islands, do not have a family doctor, and denounce the growing lack of specialists in hospitals.

Several thousand protesters and more than 1,500 doctors from all over the country gathered in Zagreb to demand better salaries, better working conditions and a significant increase in investments in the health sector. (Photo by Denis LOVROVIC / AFP) (DENIS LOVROVIC /)

The waiting time for certain medical tests is 20 months and primary care doctors can barely spend a few minutes with each of the 80 or 100 patients they have to attend to each day, denounce these groups.

In addition, the poor organization of work means that doctors have to dedicate 60% of their working hours to administrative tasks.

According to a recent survey, 97% of Croatian doctors are dissatisfied with their position.

Source: Elcomercio