Health Minister Irena Hrstić visited Pula General Hospital, which is seeing a record number of patients, while helicopter and maritime emergency services have logged over 5,600 interventions in two years.
Health Minister Irena Hrstić visited Pula General Hospital on Monday, August 3, 2026, to see firsthand how the facility operates during the peak of the tourist season. Accompanied by hospital director Andrej Angelini and his deputy Daniela Fabris-Vitković, she toured key departments and learned about the challenges facing the staff.
The visit included the Emergency Department (ED), the Department of Nuclear Medicine, and the hospital pharmacy. Emphasis was placed on the organization of emergency services and new investments in medical equipment, given that the summer months bring a manifold increase in patient numbers.
Roberto Licul, the chief technician of the ED, noted that this season has been the most demanding in the last five years in terms of patient arrivals. In July alone, Pula General Hospital treated 5,800 patients, nearly 700 more than in the same period last year. Such growth places immense pressure on doctors, nurses, technicians, and other hospital staff.
The increase in visits is directly linked to the large number of tourists staying in Istria County during the summer, as well as an overall upward trend in the need for emergency medical care. During the tour, capacities, staff schedules, and options for faster patient routing to appropriate care were analyzed.
Minister Hrstić particularly emphasized the crucial role of helicopter and maritime emergency medical services in relieving the system and saving lives. According to her, these services have recorded more than 5,600 interventions over the past two years.
"On average, a helicopter takes off or a boat sets sail every three hours to save a life," Minister Hrstić told Glas Istre.
She pointed out that these services are not only vital during the summer rush; their year-round availability is invaluable, especially for residents of islands and remote areas. Rapid transport by sea or air is often critical in cases of severe injuries and acute conditions, and Pula General Hospital is one of the key facilities for receiving these patients in Istria.
The visit also included discussions about potentially relocating the tourist clinic to the immediate vicinity of the hospital. The goal is to reduce unnecessary patient transfers between locations, speed up diagnostics and treatment, and enable easier collaboration between clinic staff and hospital departments.
The Ministry of Health has already funded the procurement of a new fume hood for preparing radiopharmaceuticals at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, equipment essential for safe handling of diagnostic substances. Plans also include the imminent replacement of the existing CT scanner and the acquisition of a new MRI machine, which should significantly enhance diagnostic capabilities and shorten patient processing times, especially under the heavy seasonal influx.
