- by croatiaweek
- January 24, 2026
- in
Koprivnica (Photo: David Kundih/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Koprivnica, a city in northern Croatia, has introduced a new financial incentive programme aimed at addressing a growing shortage of family doctors and ensuring stable access to primary healthcare for its residents.
The city has adopted a dedicated Programme to Encourage the Employment of Medical Doctors and Family Medicine Specialists, responding to an increasing lack of general practitioners that has already begun to affect the availability and continuity of primary healthcare services, Podravski.hr reports.
The initiative is designed to attract and retain doctors in family medicine clinics operating within the Koprivnica-Križevci County Health Centre, which provides primary healthcare services across the city.
€7,000 annual incentive for doctors
Under the programme, doctors who take up permanent, full-time employment in family medicine practices in Koprivnica will be entitled to a financial incentive of €7,000 net per year.
The incentive will apply to doctors who sign employment contracts from 2026 onwards and will be paid for each calendar year in which there is a confirmed need to fill vacancies in family medicine clinics.
City officials say the measure is intended not only to attract new doctors, but also to encourage them to remain in Koprivnica long term, helping to stabilise healthcare provision for local residents.
By strengthening staffing levels in family medicine practices, the city aims to guarantee accessible, continuous and reliable healthcare for its population, particularly as demand for primary care services continues to rise.
Employment competitions for eligible doctors will be conducted by the County Health Centre, in line with the conditions set out in the programme.
Public consultation underway
The proposed programme is currently subject to public consultation, which will remain open until mid-February. Members of the public are invited to submit feedback, suggestions and opinions as part of the consultation process before the final measures are adopted.
Local authorities believe the programme represents a key step towards safeguarding the future of primary healthcare in Koprivnica and ensuring residents continue to have timely access to family doctors.