Zagreb Faces Severe Shortage of Paediatricians

The news in Croatian

1. manjak (m.)
   nedostatak nečega što je potrebno ili očekivano ↩︎
2. stvarati
   uzrokovati da nešto postoji ili da se pojavi ↩︎
3. mirovina (f.)
   životno razdoblje kad prestaje raditi zbog starosti ili radne nesposobnosti ↩︎
4. uspjeh (m.)
   postizanje cilja ili rezultata koji se priželjkuje ↩︎
5. rješenje (n.)
   postupak ili način kojim se uklanja problem ↩︎
6. zabrinuti
   biti pun briga ili tjeskobe zbog nečega ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Why are parents in Zagreb worried?

Question: What is happening with the paediatricians in Zagreb?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
manjak (m.)	shortage
mirovina (f.)	pension
uspjeh (m.)	success
rješenje (n.)	solution
zabrinuti	worried
stvarati	create

Read the full story

The imminent retirement of Dr. Metka Regan, a paediatrician who has diligently cared for over 1600 children, highlights the strained capacity of paediatric services in the city. Regan, aged 68, plans to retire at the end of the year after 37 years of service. Concerns are mounting as her departure will leave a void in the already overloaded healthcare system.

In recent months, health authorities in Zagreb have attempted to fill this gap, issuing 14 tenders for paediatric positions. Unfortunately, no candidates have come forward, and the stress among local parents is palpable. Parents like Martina Divjak Šiptar, who has two young children, are anxious about the lack of available care, saying, “Everywhere is so crowded, I don’t know if we will find a replacement.”

The broader issue is reflected in data from the Croatian Medical Chamber, which reports that out of 243 paediatricians nationwide, 85 are over the age of 60. With 87 positions currently unfilled in primary healthcare, the problem is exacerbated by the aging workforce and slow pace of new entries into the field.

Authorities believe one solution lies in motivating young doctors to pursue paediatrics, a task requiring both immediate and long-term strategies. According to Aida Mujkić from the Croatian Paediatric Society, incentives and continuous advertisement of specializations are key. Meanwhile, local and national bodies are focusing on financial support and increasing incentives as a means to attract new paediatricians.

Lora Vidović, head of health services in Zagreb, mentions that 79 paediatricians are currently in training, with the expectation that they will soon integrate into the workforce to help ease existing pressures. However, with existing demands far exceeding available resources, the question remains whether these efforts will suffice to meet the critical needs of the city’s young patients.

While the national and local authorities continue to grapple with these challenges, the uncertainty leaves many families in a difficult position, as some may have to rely on family doctors to fill the gap, a solution that many deem insufficient given the specific needs of children.

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