Governance Of Health Care Systems In The Era Of Increased International Integration

Governance of a health care system in conditions of intensified international integration requires aquiring new knowledge, innovations, more cooperation and introducition of new methods and strategies of development that will enable it to adjust to the turbulent and changing environment. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the challenges concerning governance of health care systems in a period when international relations and interdepenedance are constantly being intensified through the processes of regionalization and globalization. Special attention was given to the issue of Croatian health care system governance after joining the European Union (EU). Potential effects that the EU membership will have on health care system governance, as well as the need of adaptation to the new EU regulations are analyzed with the purpose of bringing conclusions and prospective course of action for healh care governance and reforms. Functioning within the EU framework might result in convergence to the EU standards but it will surely require different approach to governance and organization. Thus, when Croatia joins the EU it will face new rules and priorities in accordance with the current European health strategy and this will affect the governance and overall functioning of the national health care system.