CroatiaThe Center for Peace, Non-Violence, and Human Rights in Osijek has released an expanded analysis showing that patients in Croatia have 11 institutions they can appeal to, but these institutions are neither digitally nor procedurally connected, leaving no single point of contact for patients. The analysis follows the center’s work on the case of an Osijek gynecologist accused of sexually assaulting a patient during an examination, who continued working at the Clinical Hospital Center (KBC) Osijek months after an unjust ruling. The center had previously pushed for legal changes to enable employers to act swiftly in similar cases. New amendments to the Health Protection Act, effective July 24, 2025, now require employers to temporarily remove healthcare workers facing criminal charges related to sexual offenses until the court decision becomes final, and then terminate their employment within 15 days. The analysis maps all 11 institutions patients can approach, including hospital directors, county committees, the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance, professional chambers, and four different offices for legal aid, gender equality, people with disabilities, и
Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights systemic failures in Croatia's patient rights protection system, emphasizing the lack of coordination among multiple institutions and calling for reform. It criticizes the current framework as non-functional and opaque, suggesting that the existing structures are inadequate. S
