Croatia's association of private healthcare providers HUPUZ on Thursday called for giving private and public health institutions the same legal status in the announced reform of the healthcare system, as is the case in the rest of the European Union.

“Equalising the status of health institutions, regardless of their ownership structure, would reduce waiting lists for specialist examinations and budget outlays for healthcare,” they said in a statement sent to the press. “That way, patients would be able to choose, based on their health insurance, the institution where they want to get treatment or undergo medical procedures,” they added.

Croatia’s healthcare authorities currently do not legally treat private healthcare providers as providers of medical services. The Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO) – which handles financing the healthcare system – does not make it possible for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and specialist examinations at private healthcare institutions to be provided at the same prices as in the public health system, they said.

“In almost all other EU countries, patients have the right to choose the health care facility where they want to undergo a diagnostic procedure or receive therapy, regardless of the facility’s ownership structure,” HUPUZ said.

In Croatia, contracts that the HZZO signs with private health sector account for only 1 percent of its total budget, while in most European countries that share exceeds 30 percent, the association said.

“Not using the possibilities and capacity of the private health sector leaves patients waiting for diagnostic procedures or therapy,” HUPUZ said.