The Most party has demanded an immediate solution to the issue of medical examinations for athletes in Zaprešić and surrounding municipalities. According to their claims, more than 3,000 active athletes are currently unable to undergo mandatory medical check-ups within the public health system. Instead, this service is available only through private clinics, imposing an additional financial burden on families.
The core problem lies in the lack of available specialists in occupational and sports medicine in the public sector. Although the Zagreb County Institute in the Zaprešić branch has its own laboratory, the necessary equipment, and staff, check-ups at this facility are not planned due to a staffing deficit. Consequently, athletes are left with the option of visiting a private clinic operating within the premises of the health centre, which lacks its own laboratory.
The financial burden of this situation falls entirely on service users. The cost of one examination is 70 euros or more, an amount that must be covered by parents, guardians, or the athletes themselves. Most highlights that it is unsustainable for citizens to bear high costs for services that should be part of public healthcare, especially when existing capacities at the health centre are not fully utilized.
The Most party is calling on the city of Zaprešić, the Zag County, and the health centre to find a new model of funding and organisation. They propose the subsidisation of additional work for occupational and sports medicine specialists, which would enable the provision of check-ups within the public system. This proposal is based on the use of the existing laboratory, equipment, and staff of the health centre, thereby avoiding the unnecessary expenditure of funds and ensuring that the service is accessible to all athletes.
