During the peak tourist season, the second-largest hospital in Croatia, KBC Split, experienced a significant number of staff taking sick leave, with over 1,027 employees absent in June alone. This has raised concerns about whether some staff members are using sick leave to avoid work during the busy summer period. Minister of Health Irena Hrstić acknowledged the issue but emphasized that she would not comment on potential misuse of sick leave without concrete evidence, stating that such actions would violate labor laws. She noted that similar issues have occurred in other hospitals and highlighted the challenges of conducting simultaneous checks across multiple facilities. Hospital director Krešimir Dolić explained that while some absences are due to legitimate health reasons, others might stem from burnout or exhaustion, though the hospital cannot determine the validity of each case without HZZO inspections.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both perspectives—acknowledging the concern about possible misuse of sick leave while emphasizing the need for evidence and legal compliance. It includes quotes from both the minister and hospital officials, providing balanced viewpoints without overtly favoring one side.






