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School and university health services in Croatia - how close are we to the strategic goals

The health and wellbeing of children and adolescents is supposed to be at a highest agenda of each country, not only because of the expected advantages for this population group, but as it is expected to affect the countries’ prosperity and stability. One of the most comprehensive documents regarding this issue is European strategy for child and adolescent health and development by World Health Organization, aimed at assisting Member States in formulating their own policies and programmes. Although health sector has a pivotal role, its contribution is not exclusively oriented directly to the health care, but aiming at health promotion and collaboration to multisectoral forces that can support the health and development of children and adolescents. The existing situation regarding organization and implementation of the health care for school children and adolescents in Croatia is analysed according to the goals, objectives and recommendation originating form the WHO Strategy. The health care for school children and adolescents is provided through network of pediatric and general practitioner’ s office and preventive activities by school health services within the frame of public health institutes. The data on the health topics are collected from routine data collection and national-based surveys. Analysis of the existing health system is done according to the targets set for late childhood and adolescence. The results are commented according to the organization of the health care, professionals’ education, strategic documents and policy development. The existing organization aims at diminishing differences in health outcomes among children and adolescents, but gaps still remained and are the issue of the future concern.

school health services; chilren and adolescents; Croatia

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