Bjelovar mayor warns of pediatrician shortage threatening hospital services

Mayor Dario Hrebak of Bjelovar sent a letter to county governor Marko Marušić warning that the pediatric department at Dr. Anđelko Višić Hospital is operating with only two doctors instead of the five needed for normal functioning. The current duty roster, arranged with external collaborators, runs only until the end of May, after which the department’s future is uncertain.

Hrebak says the shortage could force the closure of the pediatric unit, endangering the gynecology department and the hospital’s overall viability. He criticises the county for inadequate communication and calls for an urgent meeting that also includes hospital officials and relevant health authorities. Proposed solutions include a package of institutional, financial and housing incentives to attract young pediatricians, and the city council plans one‑off €1,000 incentives for pediatricians and general‑practice doctors, although the city lacks direct authority over the hospital. The mayor urges that the county and the Ministry of Health must act to preserve the department and protect community health.