Croatian postage stamps featuring distinguished medical events and personalities

Modern Croatian history of postal services started with the first postage stamp issued as a sign of sovereignty and statehood after the Declaration of independence in 1991. A review of recent catalogues and theme collections has shown that of 654 definitive and commemorative stamps issued from 1991 to early 2008, sixteen were dedicated to medicine.Two stamps show health care institutions: ZRC Lipik, and health resort VaraZdinske Toplice; two commemorative stamps call attention to blindness-related issues, and one dedicated to disability is entitled "Mines". A series of three stamps entitled "Flora: Medicinal Herbs" recalls traditional folk medicine. In 2001, a stamp was issued on the occasion of the International Non-smoking Day to warn about the adverse effects of smoking on the development of cardiovascular diseases. The most common medicine-related subject on postage stamps were distinguished physicians and scientists: Ante Sercer, Stjepan Betleheim, Julije Domac, Dr agutin Gorjanović-Kramberger, and Duro Baglivi. Indispensable in medical philately are the semi-postal (charity) stamps issued by nonpostal institutions such as the Red Cross, Tuberculosis Week, the Croatian Anti-Cancer League, and the Croatian Diabetic Association. These postage stamps not only remind the public of the rich Croatian healthcare history, but they are also powerful tools to convey messages about public health and disease prevention.