Čakovec Hospital Crisis: Surgeons’ Resignations Stir Concerns

The news in Croatian

1. abdominalan
   koji se odnosi na trbuh ili abdomen ↩︎
2. kirurgija (f.)
   grana medicine koja se bavi operativnim zahvatima na tijelu ↩︎
3. nezadovoljstvo (n.)
   stanje kada osoba nije sretna ili zadovoljna nečim ↩︎
4. zahtjev (m.)
   molba ili traženje za nečim ↩︎
5. smjena (f.)
   čin uklanjanja nekoga s dužnosti ili pozicije ↩︎
6. sukob (m.)
   situacija u kojoj dvije ili više strana ima različite interese ili mišljenja ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Why did eight surgeons resign from the hospital in Čakovec?

Question: Who is still taking care of the patients at the hospital?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
abdominalan	abdominal
kirurgija (f.)	surgery
nezadovoljstvo (n.)	dissatisfaction
zahtjev (m.)	request
smjena (f.)	dismissal
sukob (m.)	conflict

Read the full story

The hospital management issued a statement refuting claims that Dr. Zvonimir Magaš, one of the surgeons, had completely retracted his demand for the dismissal of the hospital director, Nikola Hren. Instead, Magaš expressed readiness to return to work under conditions perceived by the management as “covert extortion.” Additionally, the original call for the removal of department heads remains intact, complicating negotiations.

According to the hospital, Dr. Robert Grudić’s removal from his position as head of surgery was one of the initial demands met. Yet, subsequent requests led to an extensive list of further demands, placing the hospital in a difficult position. They assert, however, that healthcare services have maintained a high standard despite these challenges, underscored by Dr. Goran Kozjak’s handling of nearly 4,914 patients in 2024, outpacing both Grudić and Magaš in patient numbers.

Meanwhile, the Independent Platform North (NPS) views these resignations as a looming crisis for Međimurje’s healthcare. Ivica Baksa, an NPS representative, warned in the Croatian Parliament about the adverse impact of recent healthcare reforms and politicised management appointments on the hospital’s functionality. Baksa stressed that the lack of surgeons could be detrimental, potentially leaving patients vulnerable to lengthy waiting periods and healthcare risks.

The public unrest manifested in protests outside the hospital, with protesters condemning the political manoeuvres believed to have precipitated the crisis. Despite these concerns, the hospital administration maintains that these protests destabilise the institution rather than contribute to constructive solutions. They also clarified misconceptions, including Dr. Grudić’s past directorship at Poliklinika Zdravlje, emphasising that he no longer holds that position.

Amidst conflicting narratives, the underlying issue remains the assurance of quality medical care for the community, which both the hospital and NPS acknowledge. Moving forward, resolving this standoff through dialogues focused on patient care rather than political agendas appears imperative.

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