Croat Homeland Veterans Without Coinsurance Fees

Persons with a 100 percent disability level will entirely be free of paying for co-insurance fees, health minister claims.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Croatian Minister of Health and Social Welfare Darko Milinovic held a press conference today after meeting with Croatian Homeland War associations, saying he was honoured to be sitting with fellow colleagues from the war.

After a brief introduction, talks on the health reform began, which, as the minister said, was turned to favour the veterans and invalids, and despite wrong information, the veterans will have privileges.

Thus, persons with a 100 percent disability level will entirely be free of paying for co-insurance fees, and the same things goes for 30 percent disability level and those who suffer PTSD.

Ivan Prodan, retired general and surgeon, pointed out that the only thing he wants from the reform is protection and security, but not privilege as well.

- Our health system has not been altered since Bismarck – Ivan Prodan said, president of the Croatian War Veterans` Associations, adding that the funds for the reform should be rationally used.

Djuro Blagoski, president of the association of Croatian Homeland War veterans with a 100 percent disability level believes that all defenders should be subjected to medical examinations to determine credibility and eliminate possible misuse of position. He expressed satisfaction with the reform.

Tomislav Mercep, president of the Homeland War Volunteers` Association pointed out that the reform favours those who are actually ill, while on the other hand, it will prevent those who misuse their sick leave from doing so.

The Minister pointed out that the reform was not a threat for primary medicine doctors, apart from those who do not sign an annex to their contract, because they will not be able to charge co-insurance fees.

A council will probably pass the decision at its next sitting on 6-month prescriptions, which will help patients: they will no longer have to renew the same prescription once a month, but every six months.