Lawmaker Highlights Medical Device Ownership Issues; Commentator Shifts Debate

Croatian lawmaker Ivana Kekin has drawn attention to a critical issue concerning medical equipment in public hospitals, sparking a public debate that has also drawn in commentator Vlatka Pokos. Kekin highlighted that a vital PET/CT scanner at KBC Split, a public hospital, is not owned by the hospital but by the private company Medikol, a situation that has persisted since 2007.

Kekin explained on social media that this arrangement means patients in Dalmatia requiring this crucial diagnostic tool for oncological diseases are dependent on private services. She emphasized how private ownership of essential medical equipment can significantly impact the accessibility of vital healthcare services for the public.

The post garnered widespread support, with many praising Kekin's transparency and commitment. Comments lauded her as one of the few politicians speaking on such necessary issues and expressed willingness to protest. However, the discussion also saw criticism, with one user accusing Kekin of advocating for abortions.

Vlatka Pokos, a well-known media personality, intervened in the online exchange. Responding to the criticism directed at Kekin, Pokos clarified that advocating for the option of abortion does not equate to promoting it, stating it must exist due to various necessary situations. Pokos then broadened the discussion by posing rhetorical questions about pregnancy prevention, the high rate of non-payment of alimony by divorced men (claiming 99%), and whether critics have ever assisted single mothers.

Pokos's intervention shifted the focus from the specific healthcare equipment issue to wider societal concerns, prompting further discussion and highlighting her tendency to comment on controversial political and social matters. Her comments, while intended to provoke thought on broader societal responsibilities, have once again stirred public discourse.