• In Bjelovar hospital, only two pediatricians care for children; the situation became critical after one resignation and one long sick leave.
  • Hospital director Sanela Grbaš Bratković stated that after the sick leave, the system ‘collapsed’.
  • Doctors have 7-8 on-call shifts and 15 standby duties per month, meaning they are occupied for 23 days for the hospital.
  • Despite a 1,000 euro salary supplement, not a single application arrives for pediatric outpatient positions.
  • The pediatrician shortage is not isolated to Bjelovar; it is a nationwide issue affecting general hospitals.