President Milanović: I condemn any use of the public health system for personal gain and expect the prevention of any possibility for such abuse

The Croatian public health system must be exclusively a health service equally and always available to all Croatian citizens. I condemn any use of the public health system for personal gain and expect not only a thorough investigation of the misuse of money intended for the health system that was revealed today but also the prevention and elimination of any possibility for such abuse in the future.

By taking over the ownership and management rights over hospitals across the country, the Government has assumed additional responsibility for the better functioning of the public health system as well as for the prevention of any form of misuse and corruption in that system. Every euro intended for the health system that is spent for a purpose other than the intended one or is spent unlawfully causes direct damage to Croatian citizens and makes the public health system less accessible. This is unacceptable!

Instead of forcing people to seek medical help in private, well-equipped clinics, the Government has the duty to secure, through transparent and strictly controlled procurement, all the necessary equipment for public hospitals and clinics so they can provide quality healthcare for Croatian people.