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Fiscal (un)sustainability of the Croatian healthcare system: additional impact of the COVID-19 crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Hrvoje Simovic

    (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Maja Mihelja Zaja

    (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marko Primorac

    (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

The main goal of this policy paper is to provide an overview of the basic problems that have impact on healthcare in Croatia and tend to make it unsustainable. The paper points out that the COVID-19 crisis has deepened and exacerbated the already existing problems of financing the health system. The analysis shows that Croatia swept under the rug systemic problems in financing healthcare and ultimately paid the price through frequent financial bailouts. Thus, in the period from 1994-2021, a total of HRK 23.9 billion was spent on bailing out the health service. On the other hand, the COVID-19 crisis can be seen as a chance to start solving the problem and implement certain reforms, both on the revenue and expenditure side of the health system.

Suggested Citation

  • Hrvoje Simovic & Maja Mihelja Zaja & Marko Primorac, 2021. "Fiscal (un)sustainability of the Croatian healthcare system: additional impact of the COVID-19 crisis," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 45(4), pages 495-515.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipf:psejou:v:45:y:2021:i:4:p:495-515
    DOI: 10.3326/pse.45.4.5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Voncina, Luka & Dzakula, Aleksandar & Mastilica, Miroslav, 2007. "Health care funding reforms in Croatia: A case of mistaken priorities," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(1), pages 144-157, January.
    2. Luca Lorenzoni & Alberto Marino & David Morgan & Chris James, 2019. "Health Spending Projections to 2030: New results based on a revised OECD methodology," OECD Health Working Papers 110, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    healthcare financing; financial bailouts; hospital debt; COVID-19; Croatia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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