Medica Jadertina, Vol. 40 No. 3-4, 2010.
Review article
The role of sanitary inspection of water in public health protection in Croatia
Ksenija Vitale
; Škola narodnog zdravlja "Dr. Andrija Štampar"
Ivo Afrić
; Primorsko-goranska županija, Upravni odjel za zdravstvenu zaštitu i socijalnu skrb, Rijeka
Petra Šuljić
; Nastavni zavod za javno zdravstvo Primorsko-goranske županije, Rijeka
Tomo Pavić
; Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi Republike Hrvatske, Zagreb
Abstract
Water is one of the main factors in the sustainability of human life and, therefore, an asset and public interest of every state. The preservation of water and intensive care of water supply systems with the application of new technologies is an integral part of health care quality. In Croatia 80% of the population is covered with drinking water from communal water supply systems, 6% is using water from small local water supply systems, and the remaining 14% of the population is using water from individual wells or cisterns. In Croatia, the Law on Sanitary Inspection was ratified at the beginning of 2009, and it regulates the organization and establishment of sanitary inspection, its competences and authorities. Since sanitary
inspection covers an exceptionally wide area of expertise, the law defines the employment of one inspector per 15.000 inhabitants in order to have quality health protection. Today there are 258 inspectors in Croatia, combined on administrative and operative positions and indicating a shortage of only 37 inspectors according to the Republic of Croatia criteria. However, these numbers are misleading because the distribution on county level, where 80% of sanitary inspection is performed, is much worse, and there is a
shortage of 101 inspectors. At the moment the main problem in water production and management in Croatia are financial resources. More attention should be headed to the protection of the existing water resources, and sanitary inspection plays a significant role in that process. Croatia should invest more in the education and organization of sanitary inspection, and strengthen its position within the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Keywords
water supply; sanitary inspection; legislation; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
65091
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2011.
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