Croatia establishes Speech Therapist Chamber amid closure warnings

Croatian Chamber of Speech Therapists HALP speech therapy regulations Ministry of Health Croatia private medical practices

The Croatian Ministry of Health and the Croatian Speech Therapy Society have established the Croatian Chamber of Speech Therapists. The new body is tasked with issuing work permits, maintaining a professional register, providing expert supervision, and recognizing foreign qualifications.

However, the establishment coincides with a crisis regarding new technical requirements for private practices. According to the Croatian Association of Entrepreneurial Speech Therapists (HALP), 85 percent of surveyed private practices do not meet the new minimum spatial standards mandated by the Speech Therapy Act. HALP warns that approximately 40 percent of private practices could be forced to close by July 2027, potentially leaving at least 7,000 users, mostly children, without therapy.

In response, more than 1,500 parents have sent letters to President Zoran Milanović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and Minister of Health Irena Hrstić. The parents are calling for an urgent dialogue and a review of controversial technical requirements, such as minimum room sizes, ceiling heights, and specific door widths, which they argue could disrupt essential medical care.

Entities

Andrej Plenković · Croatian Association of Entrepreneurial Speech Therapists · Croatian Chamber of Speech Therapists · Ministry of Health Croatia · Zoran Milanović

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The Chamber of Speech Therapists will manage professional registers and recognize foreign qualifications. www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] At least 7,000 users, mostly children, could lose access to therapy. www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The Croatian Chamber of Speech Therapists was established on October 22. www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] New regulations require rooms to be at least 12 square meters and waiting rooms at least 9 square meters. www.jutarnji.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 40 percent of private practices could permanently close by July 2027. www.jutarnji.hr · www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] More than 1,500 parents sent letters to the President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Health. www.glasistre.hr · www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] A joint proposal from speech therapists was submitted to the Ministry in October 2025. www.jutarnji.hr
[● 3 SOURCES] 85 percent of surveyed private speech therapy practices do not meet new technical requirements. www.glasistre.hr · www.novilist.hr · zadarskilist.novilist.hr

Sources

Tisuće djece mogle bi ostati bez logopedske terapije: Roditelji traže hitnu reakciju države [glas-slavonije.hr]

3 days ago

Roditelji traže da država hitno riješi problem novih uvjeta za logopede [www.glasistre.hr]

5 days ago

Propao ključni sastanak, pola logopeda stavlja ključ u bravu, na kraju su i među njima izbile nesuglasice [www.jutarnji.hr]

5 days ago

Osnovana Hrvatska komora logopeda, no tisuće djece i dalje strahuju da bi mogle ostati bez terapije [www.novilist.hr]

5 days ago

Osnovana Hrvatska komora logopeda, no tisuće djece i dalje strahuju da bi mogle ostati bez terapije [zadarskilist.novilist.hr]

5 days ago