The main topic of the Master’s thesis is the comparison of the Slovenian and Croatian healthcare system with emphasis of health expenditures. The goal of the work is to determine the organizational and financial structure of their existence and compare them. Initially, we present the theoretical backgrounds of healthcare, namely its legal regulation and an historical overview of healthcare systems. The empirical part of the thesis was designed with a special methodology called SHA. In this part, we analyse expenditures for different healthcare purposes and present the similarities and differences of public and private expenditures between the countries. The basis for the preparation of the empirical part are the analytic and descriptive approach and the determination of SHA-methodology.
With the research, we verify the hypotheses, stated in the introduction. Based on statistical data and analyses, we can refute hypotheses 1, 2 and 3, and confirm hypotheses 4 and 5. We find that Slovenia is spending more per capita on services of long-time care, supporting services, on drugs and medical-technical equipment and hospital services than the neighbouring Croatia. We also find that Slovenian is spending more private funds per capita on health. The research also pointed out an increase of expenditures for all purposes and types of activities in Slovenia and Croatia. Despite austerity measures, the expenditures are rising in both countries.
The Master’s thesis provides more room for manoeuvre in the adoption of better reform measures and contributes to the shaping of a new healthcare policy with the help of the given suggestions for improvement. It also supports the consolidation of public finances and provides ground for further researches based on the given methodology and presents the fundamental issues of healthcare systems of both countries. It mostly influences the field of health economics and at the same time encourages the wider public in searching and creating the fundamental issues of society.
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