Croatian Society for Preventive and Social Paediatrics Delegation Inform President Milanović of Paediatrician Shortage in Croatia
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović met today with a delegation of the Croatian Society for Preventive and Social Paediatrics (“Hrvatsko društvo za preventivnu i socijalnu pedijatricju”) that informed him of the status and importance of paediatrics in primary healthcare, and of the problems that the paediatrics specialists have to deal with.
According to their assessment physicians specializing in paediatrics in Croatia are becoming fewer in numbers – currently there are 237 – because there were no continued calls for professional development by specializations. In order to deal with this problem, they warned that it is crucial to ensure continued calls for professional development by specializations, but also encourage that the specializations are completed. Due to this situation one medical office today in Croatia on average cares for 1,200 children while the European average is 800 children per medical office.
Although this issue has been discussed by the Parliamentary Healthcare Committee, the representatives noted that practically nothing has changed for the better. Parents are aware of the importance of paediatrics and the care that paediatricians administer to children, but society and institutions have to realize the importance of paediatrics in primary healthcare, the members of the Society noted at the meeting with President Milanović whom they thanked for recognizing their contribution to children’s healthcare and for being patron of the Society’s 3rd Congress last October.
The Croatian Society for Preventive and Social Paediatrics was founded 27 years ago due to the need for the medical profession to ensure guidelines for proper growth and development, healthy eating, timely immunization, adequate hygienic living conditions and quality education. Thus far 40 preventive and social paediatrics symposiums and the 3rd congress of children’s health were held emphasizing there is no quality healthcare without improvement in the profession, there is no corresponding care for children without efforts to prevent diseases, without empathy for the status of children in the family and in society as a whole, without creating and providing the best opportunities for child growth and development.
In the delegation of the Croatian Society for Preventive and Social Paediatrics were paediatrics specialists from various parts of Croatia: Society president Mirjana Kolarek Karakaš, vice-presidents Branka Pirija, Dolores Gal Sviderek and Milivoj Jovančević, member of “Naša djeca Hrvatske”, the Society’s Coordinating Committee, Giovana Armano, members of the Commission to Promote Breastfeeding in the Ministry of Health Marija Čatipović and Đurđa Španović as well as Society members Dino Kramer, Lidija Ptujec and Đeni Momić.
Alongside President Milanović at the meeting was the Adviser to the President for Education Jadranka Žarković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Fillip Glas