Naslov
Health system reorganization in Croatia in the light of major reform tendencies in OECD countries

Autori
Orešković, Stjepan

Izvornik
Croatian Medical Journal (0353-9504) 36 (1995); 47-54

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
cost-contaitment; Croatia; health system reorganization; structural reform

Sažetak
Aim. To estimate the extent of confirmity of the health reform in Croatia to the reform tendencies in the economically and technologically most developed countries. Method. Comparative study was aimed at assesing the type of the health system currently developed in Croatia in relation to the dominant models in the OECD countries. Post-wellfare health indicators - organiaztional method, property, control and payment mechanisms were evaluated by determining their accessibility, acceptability, affordability and equity. An insight into the way of realization of the health reform in Croatia was obtained by verifying the functioning of seven basic indicators characteristic of post-welfare health systems: cost-containment policy, role of market economy, decentralization, privatization, quality of services, type of health insurance and prevailing model of helath education. Results. Croatian health system could be classified into the type of Western capitalist market economy systems with a scientifically allopathic tradition in medicine, orientiation to individualistic evaluation of naturalist health philosophy. Reorganization in the area of market economy reform carried out so far has been aimed at the establishment of a system based on general economic principles. The choice between competition and regulation has been made in favor of the former. The decision to opt for various types of property clearly dissociates the system from the state-ownership and self-government background. Numerous cost-containtment measures have been taken, bringing about a significant reduction of health budget expenditures. Also, the internal debt amounting to almost DM700 million has been settled and the internal authority structure altered through the reorganization of hospital administration and funding institutions. Conclusion. The measures taken in the process of health reform in Croatia have so far been identical to the reform instruments in the majority of OECD countries. The process of health reorganization ended and the structural reform has begun. Its future will depend upon the overall Croatian government`s economic reform in which the health reform represents one of the most important instruments.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Sociologija

POVEZANOST RADA