Dijana Zadravec, a specialist radiologist, has been reappointed as head of the Clinical Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the University Hospital Centre "Sisters of Mercy" (KBC "Sestre milosrdnice"), five years after being removed from the post. In the new tender, she defeated two colleagues from the hospital in Vinogradska.
Her dismissal in 2020 attracted significant public attention, particularly after she threatened former Health Minister Vili Beroš (HDZ) with "Andrej" regarding the tender for the director of the KBC. According to available information, she left behind severely damaged interpersonal relationships, employee complaints about her conduct, departures of doctors, and a physical altercation with colleague Mia Primorac. The Pula County Court (Županijski sud u Puli) definitively confirmed this year that the dismissal was justified, finding that Zadravec had violated the dignity of employees.
Zadravec also applied for the previous tender announced in March this year. At that time, the committee selected another candidate, Gordana Ivanac, a university professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Zagreb and a radiologist at Dubrava University Hospital. Ivanac was preparing to take up the new role and had already held a farewell dinner with colleagues, but that tender was annulled in July for an as yet unknown reason. In the new tender, Zadravec was elected head of the Department by a wide margin.
By Friday afternoon, as many as nine radiologists had decided to leave the KBC "Sisters of Mercy". The entire affair mentions godfather ties with people from the Ministry, a desire to retain one's own position, and pressure from the very top. Some HDZ members did not wish to comment on the entire case, while others openly admit that such a controversial appointment could not have passed without the blessing of the very top of the Government.
Zadravec, citing the appeal deadline expiring on 10 November, stated that the most expert person and the person who has an obligation to contribute to interpersonal relationships should always be selected in a tender. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković rejects any link between HDZ and this case and claims that the final decision lies with the KBC and the Ministry of Health.
Political analyst Professor Dr Žarko Puhovski stated that he can understand Plenković wanting to have influence on the decision of who will be the directors of the country's largest public hospitals, but warns that if one starts interfering in the internal organisation of hospitals, it is a sign that something serious is not functioning regarding the rule of law. He considers these to be elements of a totalitarian syndrome in which the ruling power decides everything, assessing that this is probably about personal acquaintances.
Puhovski emphasises that if the highest level of authority or the second highest level of authority, which is the Ministry of Health, decides on someone's position at the fourth level of organisation in that hospital, then it is completely irrelevant what professional and social qualifications you have. He adds that Dijana Zadravec may be expert, but that is not the only criterion in selection. He warns that every person who leads a team must build the ability to cooperate at the level of working functioning, and not behave in complete opposition to that.
He also recalls the case at the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb 45 years ago when they tried to impose Stipo Šuvar as a full professor. Šuvar failed twice at the council, yet they continued to propose him. Sociologist Rudi Supek then said he could still understand if the state imposed a dean, although he admitted that he did not even like that.
