Clinical trials in Croatia are significantly below the EU average, with about 50-70 new trials annually, which is half the EU average and one-third of developed countries. Croatia invests about 10 euros per capita in clinical trials, while Slovenia invests significantly more. Clinical trials bring multiple benefits, including patient access to the latest therapies, medical staff education, and economic benefits through pharmaceutical company investments. However, there are obstacles such as outdated regulations, high tax burdens, and a shortage of medical personnel. Experts believe that greater state support is needed through tax relief, regulatory revision, and raising public awareness about the importance of clinical trials. The most developed EU countries actively promote clinical trials, while Croatia lags behind, which may negatively impact innovation in therapies and the healthcare system.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the need for increased government support and investment in clinical trials in Croatia, highlighting the social benefits such as improved patient access to innovative therapies and the importance of public healthcare strengthening. They criticize the current regulatory and tax burdens as barriers to progress and call for reforms to make clinical research more accessible and beneficial to the public.
Center: Center-leaning sources provide a balanced view, acknowledging the economic and healthcare benefits of clinical trials while pointing out the current shortcomings in Croatia’s clinical research activity compared to other EU countries. They stress the importance of updating regulations and improving infrastructure to attract more clinical trials and foreign investment, recognizing the challenges but also the potential for growth.
Right: Right-leaning sources focus on the economic aspects, emphasizing the need for deregulation, tax relief, and creating a business-friendly environment to attract pharmaceutical companies and foreign investments. They highlight the inefficiencies in the current system and advocate for reducing government interference and bureaucracy to stimulate innovation and economic growth through clinical trials.
