New Regulations for Croatian Doctors’ Private Practice

The news in Croatian

1. ministarstvo  (n.)
   institucija u vladi koja upravlja određenim područjem politike ili administracije ↩︎
2. strog
   koji je vrlo zahtjevan i s puno pravila ↩︎
3. klinika  (f.)
   medicinska ustanova za liječenje uz napredne metode i opremu ↩︎
4. iskustvo  (n.)
   znanje i vještine stečene kroz praksu ili rad ↩︎
5. lista  (f.)
   popis stavki ili elemenata organiziran u redom ili serijom ↩︎
6. osigurati
   pobrinuti se da nešto bude dostupno ili da se održi ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What is the minimum experience required for doctors to work in private clinics according to the new regulations?

Question 2: What is the purpose of the new regulations for Croatian doctors?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
ministarstvo  (n.)	ministry
strog	stricter
klinika  (f.)	clinics
iskustvo  (n.)	experience
lista  (f.)	list
osigurati	ensure

Read the full story

The Croatian Ministry of Health has announced stricter rules for doctors seeking to work in private clinics, a move intended to address long waitlists and improve healthcare services. The new regulatory proposal, presented by Health Minister Irena Hrstić, establishes stringent requirements for obtaining a permit for private practice work.

Under the proposed regulations, doctors wishing to engage in additional work in private facilities will need at least five years of professional experience in their field. Furthermore, permits will not be granted if there are waitlists longer than 150 days within their public hospital department. The aim is to ensure that public healthcare services are not compromised by allowing doctors to spend excessive time in more lucrative private roles.

The new system introduces clear evaluation criteria and a point system. Doctors must show they have met at least average performance standards over the past three months in clinical duties and diagnostics to qualify. This performance-based approach is intended to encourage doctors to fulfil their obligations in public hospitals before seeking additional work elsewhere.

Permits will be valid for one year, and the evaluation will consider waitlist dynamics as a crucial factor. Doctors holding leadership or academic roles will incur negative points, reflecting their primary commitments to organisational leadership and educational duties, respectively.

According to the ministry, of the 1,586 doctors currently engaged in additional private work, the largest number is found in Zagreb, where 677 doctors are registered for dual roles. The disciplines most represented include anaesthesiology, radiology, paediatrics, and gynaecology.

The regulations aim to enhance transparency and correct tracking of service delivery in public hospitals. Although the total number of permits is not expected to significantly decrease, the improved criteria should promote better accountability.

The minister highlighted that, despite the stricter controls, these measures alone will not reduce waiting times, as broader healthcare reforms are needed. Emphasizing the importance of viewing public healthcare as a public good rather than merely a budgetary item, Hrstić pointed to the need for ongoing financial investments to support the nation’s health services sustainably.

By July, the new rules are anticipated to enter public consultation, marking a step towards potential implementation. The proposal reflects the ministry’s strategy to balance private sector opportunities with the preservation of quality public healthcare services in Croatia.

Info: “Croatian Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Croatian”, a dedicated language school that helps individuals eager to learn Croatian. We offer various types of online courses tailored to different levels and needs.