ZAGREB,54 April (Hina) - Health Minister Irena Hrstić awarded special status designations to 15 specialised hospitals and health resorts on Friday, granting them the status of naftalan, thalassotherapy and thermal treatment centres.
The status of thalassotherapy health resorts was awarded to institutions in Veli Lošinj, Opatija, Crikvenica, Rovinj, Makarska, Biograd na Moru and Vela Luka. Meanwhile, the facilities in Varaždinske, Krapinske, Stubičke, Daruvarske, and Bizovačke Toplice, as well as in Lipik and Topusko, were designated as thermal health resorts.
Additionally, the Naftalan Special Hospital in Ivanić-Grad was granted the status of a naftalan treatment centre.
These institutions also received the status of climate and peloid therapy health resorts during the symposium "Health Resort Tourism and Natural Healing Factors", held in Ivanić-Grad, about 40km east of Zagreb.
"As Minister of Health, my focus is on public health, but I also recognise the value of the natural resources in our specialised hospitals and health resorts. These institutions not only provide treatment and rehabilitation services but also promote health and have a preventive function," Minister Hrstić said.
She emphasised the added value brought by highly qualified staff and high safety standards.
Significant investments are being made in health tourism infrastructure, she said, recalling that more than €130 million has been secured by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for this purpose.
"One of the key objectives is to position Croatia as Europe's leading health destination. These investments ensure competitiveness in the international market and the continued strengthening of health tourism," Hrstić said.
Naftalan hospital – Europe's only health resort for psoriasis and neurodermatitis
The symposium was held at the Naftalan Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation in Ivanić-Grad, which is home to Europe's only source of the medicinal naftalan oil. Thanks to this unique resource, the hospital is regarded as the only health resort in Europe specialising in the treatment of psoriasis and neurodermatitis.
The event provided a platform for healthcare and tourism experts to exchange experiences and knowledge, laying the foundation for improving the quality of health resort services in Croatia.
Croatia will continue to strengthen its position as an attractive destination for health tourism and, through its natural resources, contribute to the preservation of health and the improvement of quality of life for both residents and visitors, the Ministry of Health stated.
