Related Experiment Videos
[Occupational medicine in Croatia today. Organization and manpower]
1Hrvatski zavod za javno adravstvo, Zagreb.
Insights
In 1995, Croatia had 381 occupational health specialists, with many working in general medicine due to healthcare reforms. The Occupational Health Service faced organizational challenges during this transition.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- In 1995, Croatia's healthcare system was undergoing significant reforms following the 1993 Health Care Act.
- Occupational health was redefined as a primary preventive activity, impacting workforce distribution and service provision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the structure and distribution of the occupational health workforce in Croatia in 1995.
- To understand the organizational setup of the Occupational Health Service amidst healthcare system transition.
Main Methods:
- Data sourced from the Health Manpower Register of the Croatian National Institute of Public Health.
- Analysis of workforce numbers, specializations, and service delivery units within the Occupational Health Service.
Main Results:
- 381 occupational health specialists were registered; 49% worked in occupational health, while 43% were in general medicine.
- The Occupational Health Service employed 649 individuals, including 230 physicians, across 127 units in 65 communities.
- Service units varied, offering specialized, comprehensive, or curative care, reflecting organizational adaptation.
Conclusions:
- The Croatian occupational health system in 1995 exhibited a mixed organizational structure and workforce distribution.
- The transition period and new legislation influenced the integration of occupational health specialists into general medical services, particularly in urban areas.
Abstract:
According to the Health Manpower Register, run by the Croatian National Institute of Public Health, in October 1995 the country's health institutional work force included 381 occupational health specialists, 34 of whom were in private practice. Of the total, only 188 (49%) worked in occupational health, 163 (43%) in general medicine and 30 (8%) in other services. In all, the Occupational Health Service (without private practice) employed 649 persons. Of these, 230 were physicians (200 specialists, 8 medical specialty trainees and 22 general practitioners), 136 university-trained health workers and 200 health workers with secondary school education. The Occupational Health Service operated through 127 units in 65 Croatian communities and towns. Seventy-eight units provided specialized medical care only, 20 comprehensive medical care, and 29 curative services only. Such organizational mix is a consequence of the transitional period since the passage and coming into force in August 1993 of the Health Care Act which has defined occupational health as a purely preventive activity at the primary health care level. Most occupational health specialists who work for the General Medical Service have jobs in major towns like Zagreb, Rijeka and Sisak.