WEB engleska verzija end.indd - UNDP Croatia

CHAPTER 2SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXTcation of a cost-benefit analysis and on strengtheningthe connections between hospitals and primary andsecondary health protection. Better organisation andconnection between these three levels of healthcarewill generate a greater reliance on primary servicesand reduce pressures on specialized and hospitalservices.The reform activities are classified into three groups:service provision, equipment acquisition, and developinghealthcare related information technology.Connections with the local community are also beingestablished with more homecare services, improvedhospital patient release procedures, and the involvementof general practitioners in out-patient recovery.There is also a plan to improve the general expertiseand number of nurses. Doctors and primary healthcarepractitioners have the most contact with patientsand therefore have the greatest impact on the impressionthe population has of the overall healthcaresystem. Healthcare management expertise must alsobe improved quickly so that the next generation ofpractitioners can be prepared to manage healthcareinstitutions. Methods of attracting medical staff totransitional and developing countries must be improved.Finally, public planning must include a longtermstrategy to ensure the financial sustainability ofthe healthcare system as a whole. In conclusion, it isessential to clearly and precisely define, coordinateand modernise the minimum financial standards inhealthcare. Coordination between the powers andresponsibilities of the owners of health facilities(mostly local authorities) and those providing thefinancing (Croatian Health Insurance Institute) mustalso be improved.36