Health Committee Chair Criticizes Staffing Crisis and Calls for Political Accountability November 9, 2026 – Zagreb – In a televised interview on RTL Direkt, Ivana Kekin, chair of the Croatian Parliament’s Health Committee, addressed a number of pressing issues in the public health sector, including a staffing crisis at the KBC Sestre Milosrdnice and the death of a 32‑year‑old patient at the Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan in Jankomir. ### Staffing Shortages at KBC Sestre Milosrdnice Kekin said that the appointment of Dijana Zadravec as head of the Radiology Institute has triggered a wave of resignations among radiologists. “We currently have nine radiologists on the Oncology Clinic, seven of whom are in the notice period,” she explained. “If the current situation continues, the clinic could be left with only two radiologists in three weeks.” She warned that such a shortage could jeopardise care for patients with malignant tumours, noting that Croatia’s cancer mortality rate is the second‑worst in the European Union. The chair also highlighted the departure of two neuroradiologists who handle emergency cases such as strokes and aneurysms. “When their notice periods expire, we will have no specialists to treat these urgent conditions,” Kekin said. She suggested that splitting the Radiology Institute into two separate units might be a solution, but expressed doubts that this would address the underlying problem of retaining highly trained specialists. ### Death of Kristijan Josip Periš and Investigation Kekin referred to the death of 32‑year‑old Kristijan Josip Periš at the Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan in Jankomir, which has led to an investigation involving four medical technicians. “The circumstances surrounding the patient’s death are unacceptable,” she said. “The hospital’s management has responded by terminating the staff involved and reporting the matter to the police.” She called for a thorough investigation of the incident and for the hospital’s administration to be held accountable. Kekin also mentioned that the hospital is under the jurisdiction of the City of Zagreb, a fact she said has led to criticism from opposition parties. She rejected comparisons between the situation in Jankomir and the political appointments in the city’s health sector, stating that the focus should remain on patient care. ### Political Responsibility and Calls for Reform During the interview, Kekin questioned the political responsibility of the city administration and the ruling coalition for the events at Jankomir. She cited a statement by former Minister of Health Vilij Beroš, in which Beroš said that the Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, decides who becomes a hospital director. “If the Prime Minister is involved in these appointments, then the entire system is at risk,” Kekin said. She also referenced the “Maršalevski” scandal, describing it as a “large shame” that has been downplayed by the left‑wing party Možemo/SDP. Kekin urged that the political parties involved should focus on patient interests rather than partisan politics. ### Response from Hospital Administration Hospital director Davor Vagić and the Minister of Health expressed surprise at the resignations and the investigation. They said they were committed to ensuring that patient care would not be compromised. However, Kekin maintained that the current situation is “unacceptable” and that the health system needs to be re‑examined to prevent further loss of skilled personnel. ### Conclusion The interview highlighted a growing concern over staffing shortages in Croatia’s public health sector and the need for greater political accountability. Ivana Kekin called for reforms that prioritize patient care and the retention of highly trained specialists, while urging a transparent investigation into the death of Kristijan Josip Periš and the conduct of hospital staff.
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