In recent weeks, a heated political debate has erupted in Croatia over the issue of Medikol—a private clinic accused of profiting excessively from public funds while failing to provide essential diagnostic services to public hospitals. At the heart of this controversy lies a proposed parliamentary investigative committee aimed at examining the relationship between Medikol and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), as well as other state institutions. The move, spearheaded by the opposition party Možemo!, has been met with strong resistance from the ruling HDZ-led government, which has repeatedly dismissed the initiative as unnecessary and politically motivated. The dispute began when Ivana Kekin, president of the parliamentary health committee within Možemo!, called out Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and his party for allegedly acting as enablers of Medikol’s interests. According to Kekin, the government has consistently refused to establish investigative bodies into cases involving public resources being misused, including the ongoing Medikol affair. She argues that this refusal undermines democratic oversight and violates constitutional principles. Kekin pointed out that Medikol operates PET/CT machines in several public hospitals, such as the KBC Split, KBC Rijeka, and Zagreb's Sestre Milosrdnice Hospital, despite the state having failed to secure these critical diagnostic tools for its own facilities. Over the past two decades, she claims, the state has paid Medikol millions in fees for services that should have been covered by public healthcare infrastructure. Kekin emphasized that the situation reflects a broader systemic failure in public healthcare management, where private entities continue to profit from underfunded public systems. She criticized the HDZ for blocking all discussions about Medikol and for attempting to suppress the formation of the investigative body. According to her, the government has used its influence to prevent transparency, even as Medikol continues to operate without proper oversight. This, she argued, is not just a matter of financial mismanagement but a violation of citizens' rights to access quality healthcare funded by their taxes. Supporting Kekin’s stance, Dalija Orešković, another member of Možemo!, echoed similar concerns. She highlighted that the case dates back to 2007, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, and that there has been no meaningful progress in addressing the alleged corruption and misuse of public funds. Orešković accused the HDZ of creating a culture of impunity, where officials who have benefited from the system are allowed to remain unaccountable. She also pointed to the lack of transparency in the allocation of space within public hospitals to Medikol, which occurred without competitive bidding processes. This, she claimed, represents a pattern of institutionalized favoritism that has persisted for years. Meanwhile, the HDZ has defended its position, arguing that the establishment of an investigative body would infringe upon the independence of judicial authorities and violate the principle of separation of powers. Mislav Herman, a spokesperson for the HDZ, stated that the party encourages citizens to report any suspicions of illegal activities directly to legal institutions rather than relying on parliamentary mechanisms. He further criticized Kekin for withholding documents related to Medikol’s operations from the committee, suggesting that she was using the information for political gain. Herman implied that the opposition’s insistence on forming an investigative body was a transparent attempt to undermine the government’s authority and advance partisan agendas. Marin Miletić, a representative of the Most party, added another layer to the discussion by raising concerns about the misuse of public funds in sports-related organizations, particularly the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO). He questioned whether the HOO had properly managed over 231 million euros in public money since 2021 and challenged the integrity of its financial practices. Miletić cited the case of Vedrana Pavleć, a former head of the Croatian Ski Association, whose alleged corruption investigation had dragged on for nearly two decades. His comments underscored a growing skepticism among some lawmakers about the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms and the need for more rigorous accountability measures. The debate surrounding Medikol has thus become emblematic of deeper tensions in Croatian politics. On one side, the opposition and civil society groups argue that the government is shielding powerful private actors from scrutiny and undermining democratic institutions. They see the rejection of the investigative body as part of a broader strategy to maintain control over public resources and suppress dissent. On the other hand, the ruling party maintains that the issue is not about corruption but about respecting the autonomy of judicial and administrative bodies. It frames its resistance as a defense of the rule of law and the separation of powers. As the conflict intensifies, both sides are likely to escalate their efforts to mobilize public support. The opposition will probably continue to highlight the failures of the current administration and push for greater transparency. Meanwhile, the ruling party may seek to reinforce its narrative by emphasizing the risks of politicizing public institutions and undermining trust in the judiciary. In the coming months, the outcome of this dispute could shape not only the future of Croatia’s healthcare policy but also the broader trajectory of its democratic governance. Whether the country can restore public confidence in its institutions remains uncertain, but the battle over Medikol has already exposed deep fractures in the political landscape.
6 reports
Index.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 98Objective 708 days agoIvana Kekin, president of the parliamentary Committee on Health from the 'Možemo' party, criticized Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović over their conflict regarding the Medikol case. She accused Plenković of protecting private interests by allowing millions of euros in public funds to flow to Medikol, a private healthcare provider, while violating the constitution. Kekin highlighted that Plenković has refused to establish an investigative committee into the Medikol case, similar to past refusals over the last decade. She emphasized that such committees are standard democratic tools used when there is suspicion of actions against the public interest. Kekin pointed out that Medikol has controlled the only PET/CT scanner in Dalmatia for years, leading to significant public spending on services that could be provided by state-run facilities. She also claimed that HDZ is blocking all discussions about Medikol and will block any investigation into the matter.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the situation as a violation of constitutional duties and highlights the protection of private interests at the expense of public welfare, using critical language towards the ruling party and its policies. The emphasis on constitutional breaches and the blocking of investigations,
Why these scores (Factual 98 · Objective 70): Very accurate representation of Kekin's statements, but shows clear bias against HDZ and Plenković.
Index.hrIndependentProgressiveFactual 95Objective 858 days ago Orešković: Allegedly corrupt Ivo Sanader made a deal with MedikolThe Croatian Parliament is currently discussing a proposal by the 'Možemo' parliamentary group to establish an investigative commission into the business dealings between private clinic Medikol and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), as well as relevant state institutions. The proposal was submitted in March and has received support from some members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The goal is to investigate potential institutional failures and illegalities in the contracting and financing of diagnostic healthcare services, particularly PET/CT scans funded by the national budget. Parliamentary representative Dalija Orešković criticized the ruling HDZ party for allegedly avoiding the establishment of such a commission, comparing the situation to Germany’s parliamentary oversight mechanisms. She accused the HDZ of transforming the Croatian Parliament into a powerless body and warned that this lack of control undermines democratic governance. Orešković also claimed that former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, who is under investigation for corruption, had ties to Medikol, which was allowed to develop a network of PET/CT devices across Croatia without proper public tenders. She
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a significant corruption scandal involving a former prime minister and a private clinic, criticizing the ruling HDZ party for obstructing transparency and accountability. It uses strong language against the HDZ, accusing them of undermining democracy and enabling a 'd
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): The article accurately covers the discussion around the Medikol investigation committee and includes a detailed quote from Dalija Orešković. The tone is slightly critical of HDZ but remains largely factual and balanced.
N1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressiveFactual 95Objective 808 days agoThe Croatian Parliament debated a proposal by the 'Možemo' parliamentary group to establish an investigative committee into the business dealings of private clinic Medikol with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) and relevant state institutions. The proposal was submitted in March and supported by some members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Parliamentary representative Dalija Orešković criticized the ruling HDZ party for rejecting the establishment of such a committee, arguing that this signals a lack of transparency and accountability. She compared the situation to Germany’s parliamentary oversight mechanisms and accused the HDZ of transforming the Croatian Parliament into a powerless body, akin to a dictatorship. Orešković also highlighted concerns over potential corruption involving former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Medikol, including allegations of improper allocation of public hospital spaces and financial improprieties. She emphasized the need to prevent the HDZ from declaring the Medikol case irrelevant and continuing to conceal past practices.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the rejection of the investigative committee as a sign of authoritarianism and corruption by the HDZ, using strong language like 'dictatorship,' 'corruption,' and 'skimming money.' It emphasizes the need for transparency and criticizes the ruling party for undermining democratic监督
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 80): The article provides accurate information about the rejection of the investigation committee and includes a detailed quote from Dalija Orešković. The tone is more critical of HDZ, but the facts are well-supported and align with the cross-source consensus.
N1 HrvatskaIndependentProgressiveFactual 95Objective 808 days ago Miletić called USKOK and the institutions: What have you done in these two weeks?MP Marin Miletić (Most) has asked the Croatian Sports Integrity Agency (USKOK) and other relevant institutions what actions they have taken over the past two weeks following his criminal complaint against Siniša Krajča, the head of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO), and several others. In his statement, Miletić questioned whether investigations had begun, if documents had been retrieved, and if responsible individuals had been interviewed. He filed the complaint due to suspicions of illegal practices in public procurement, event organization, and financial management at the HOO. Miletić highlighted that the HOO managed over €231 million in public funds between 2021 and 2025, with revenue increasing from €25.7 million to €68.6 million, which he attributes to increased public funding rather than successful marketing efforts. He also raised questions about the role of the Marketing Office within the HOO, noting a 27% increase in staff despite reliance on state funding and the absence of major sponsors. Miletić referenced past scandals involving Vedran Pavlek and the Croatian Ski Association, asking about the progress of investigations into those cases and whether all individuals,包括
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the MP's inquiry as a critical examination of potential corruption and misuse of public funds by sports officials, using strong language to highlight alleged misconduct and questioning the integrity of high-profile figures. The emphasis on uncovering wrongdoing and holding leaders
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 80): The article closely follows the primary source document, accurately reporting Kekin's statements about the conflict between Plenković and Milanović and the rejection of the Medikol inquiry. It maintains a relatively neutral tone.
Jutarnji listIndependentProgressiveFactual 90Objective 807 days agoThe Croatian HDZ party has rejected the proposal to establish an investigative commission into Medikol, a private healthcare provider, which they view as 'party police targeting dissenters.' In response, Ivana Kekin, a member of the opposition Možemo! party, accused HDZ and Medikol of colluding to suppress scrutiny over alleged corruption involving nearly two decades of mismanagement in oncology diagnostics. She claimed that Medikol attempted to silence her through intimidation and financial pressure, while HDZ avoided addressing the issue to prevent questions about why Croatia has failed to secure essential diagnostic equipment for cancer patients for almost 20 years. Kekin highlighted that the state plans to pay Medikol twice as much this year for PET/CT services compared to the cost of acquiring all necessary machines for the entire population. Sandra Benčić, leader of Možemo!, criticized the arrangement as 'crony capitalism' and a corrupt mechanism protecting HDZ elites. HDZ responded by urging anyone with suspicions of illegal activities to report them to authorities, while Kekin announced she would submit all collected documentation about Medikol to the State Prosecutor’s办公室.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the conflict between HDZ and Možemo! as a struggle over transparency and anti-corruption, with strong accusations against HDZ and Medikol. The tone emphasizes HDZ's avoidance of accountability and portrays Možemo!'s actions as legitimate efforts to protect public interest. Loaded,
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 80): The article accurately describes the debate over the Medikol investigation committee, including quotes from Ivana Kekin and the reactions from both sides. The tone is somewhat biased in favor of Možemo!, affecting objectivity slightly.
Telegram.hrIndependentConservativeFactual 85Objective 508 days agoThe article discusses the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)'s arguments against establishing an investigative committee into Medikol, a private healthcare company accused of receiving excessive state funding for PET/CT scans while public health facilities lack necessary equipment. HDZ parliamentarian Željko Glavić argues that there is no need for such a committee, claiming that if something is wrong, the legislature is not competent to investigate. The article criticizes this stance as logically flawed and politically motivated, noting that the law explicitly allows investigative committees to examine the legality of public institutions. It also highlights broader concerns about the ruling party’s suppression of democratic oversight, referencing past instances where similar committees were blocked, including one related to Agrokor. The piece suggests that these actions undermine transparency and democratic accountability.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the HDZ's opposition to the investigative committee as reasonable and legally grounded, emphasizing their trust in institutions and the supposed overreach of parliamentary oversight. It uses dismissive language toward critics who argue for transparency, implying that those demands
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 50): Some factual inaccuracies and strong bias against Medikol and in favor of Kekin.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €5/month.
Become a Supporter
Croatia
