Croatia patient complaint system lacks unity, analysis finds

The Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights Osijek has released an analysis revealing that patients in Croatia face a fragmented complaint system. While there are 11 different institutions available for filing grievances—ranging from hospital directors and the Ministry of Health to various ombudsmen—the report highlights that these entities are neither digitally nor procedurally connected, leaving patients without a single, unified point of contact.

The analysis was prompted by the case of a gynecologist in Osijek accused of sexual assault, who continued to work at the Osijek Clinical Hospital Center (KBC Osijek) for months following a non-final verdict. In response to such incidents, amendments to the Health Care Act took effect on July 24, 2025. These changes mandate that employers must temporarily suspend healthcare workers facing criminal proceedings for sexual offenses and terminate them within 15 days once a verdict becomes final.

Despite these legislative shifts, the Center reports difficulties in obtaining transparency. Since May 2025, efforts to access health inspection documentation from KBC Osijek and data regarding the number of patients treated by the accused physician have been repeatedly denied by the Ministry of Health and the hospital, citing personal data protection and ongoing criminal proceedings.