Why Croatian patients increasingly opt for treatment in private medical clinics?

The professional conduct of medical professionals should be a guarantee to the citizens of Croatia that, if they become patients, their medical institutions, regardless of whether they are private or state-owned, will provide them with a good-quality and timely medical care. Efficient organization of medical care depends on the entire medical community, and patient's satisfaction is a result of its members' interaction. Unacceptably long waiting lists, preoccupied primary care doctors, insufficient quantities of drugs and financial resources make the functioning of public medical institutions difficult. The objective of this article is to assess the reasons why patients opt for treatments in privately owned medical centers. The survey has been conducted in February 2008 on 200 patients of one privately owned health institution in Zagreb. The questionnaire consisting of 13 questions, compared different aspects of treatment in private and public health care institutions. Answers pointed out that three most frequent difficulties the patients meet while being treated in public institutions are long waiting lists for examination or surgery, too long waiting times in outpatient clinics, and indifference of the medical staff. The average grade of satisfaction with treatment is 4.57 in public institutions and 8.89 in private institutions (Tab. 8, Ref. 14).

Alzheimer's disease patients: quality of life in the Republic of Croatia.

The most common among dementias is Alzheimer's disease (AD). At the beginning it is controllable by medications but, as the disease advances, the patient needs a 24-hour care and very often one family member has to devote him/herself to the permanent care of the ill. AD dictates both patient's and family member's lives. The illness demands routine, patient behaviour, adjustments in living conditions as well as a lot of sacrifice. Although AD patients need adequate care in medical and social institutions, the caregiver's role is crucial. Therefore, the care for AD patients implicates the care for family members, i.e. caregivers. Such care should consist of medical care to caregivers, joint planning of the progress of illness and full daily patient care as well as legal advice. Croatia still hasn't got a fully developed care system for neither of the participants in the Alzheimer's disease (Ref. 22). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.