Dr. Marijan Cesarik, Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Croatia took part at the Informal Meeting of the European Ministers of Health, on 28-29 April 2014, in Athens. Representatives of the 28 EU Member States discussed the consequences of the economic crisis and its influence on the quality of health care. They exchanged their experiences in dealing with the challenges that the crisis poses for the health care systems.
In his remarks, Dr. Cesarik pointed out that, in view of the budgetary limitations, enhancing primary health care, preventive measures and patient education about healthy lifestyles should be addressed. It is necessary to upgrade out of hospital treatment and day hospitals, in parallel with the reduction in number of hospital beds for emergency patients, in line with available human and infrastructural resources. This should contribute to cost reduction in the health system as well as reduction of the duration of working days spent on sick-leave. Dr. Cesarik emphasised that, regardless of the financial limitations, high standards need to be maintained in the health care for vulnerable sections of the population, in particular children, the socially deprived, persons with special needs, and single parent families.
Health of the migrant population was also debated, given the necessity for collaboration within the EU, in dealing with care for this vulnerable group of people.
Deputy Minister Cesarik met with Spyridon-Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health of the Hellenic Republic, who is an archaeologist, and presented him with the replica of the Vucedol Dove and a copy of the book „One Hundred Croatian Archaeological Sites“.
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