Velika Gorica Offers 1,200 Euro Monthly Bonus to Attract Pediatricians

Velika Gorica, a city in Croatia, is implementing a significant financial incentive to bolster its pediatric healthcare services. The city announced it will provide monthly salary supplements of 1,200 euros for full-time pediatricians and 600 euros for those working half-time at the local health center.

This initiative is designed to address a critical shortage of pediatric specialists in Velika Gorica. The city aims to attract new doctors and retain existing ones by making positions more financially appealing. The public call specifies that the subsidy is available to pediatricians already working at the Velika Gorica Health Center, private pediatricians utilizing the center's leased spaces, and those contracted to cover for absent colleagues for over 30 days.

To benefit from this city-funded support, pediatricians must enter into a formal agreement with the City of Velika Gorica. This contract obligates them to continue providing healthcare services within the city until the end of the current calendar year. Velika Gorica previously announced similar support measures last year, recognizing the need to draw doctors to its health center.

The city ideally requires six pediatricians to ensure adequate healthcare for its population, which numbers over 61,000 residents, with approximately 30,000 living in the urban area. Currently, the Velika Gorica Health Center operates with three overworked pediatricians, two of whom are pensioners working part-time. With only one new pediatrician expected to complete her specialization next April, the system faces challenges in maintaining essential care for children. Mayor Krešimir Ačkar emphasized the goal: "We want to provide higher quality healthcare for our youngest, and the reality today is that without such support, it will not be possible in many cities. We believe the support is a sufficient incentive to attract new pediatricians, especially from nearby Zagreb."

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We want to provide higher quality healthcare for our youngest, and the reality today is that without such support, it will not be possible in many cities. We believe the support is a sufficient incentive to attract new pediatricians, especially from nearby Zagreb.