What happened to the HZMO and HZZO building in Požega?

After the entrance was renovated, the ramp for people with disabilities was removed, leaving a high flight of steps as the only entrance to the building.

How long has the building been inaccessible to people with disabilities?

According to the portal Požeški.hr, the building has been inaccessible for nearly two months, since the entrance renovation was completed.

What does Croatian law stipulate regarding building accessibility?

The technical regulation on ensuring the accessibility of buildings for people with disabilities mandates that public buildings must meet accessibility conditions during reconstruction, and that the owner must not restrict the use of assistive devices.

Have the relevant institutions responded to the issue?

Citizens are still awaiting a response from the relevant institutions on when the problem will be resolved and whether unimpeded access to the building will be restored.

Croatia

Renovated HZMO and HZZO Building in Požega Now Inaccessible to Disabled

H.D. · Prije 12h | 2 min

After the renovation, the only entrance to the building housing the regional offices of the pension and health insurance funds is a high flight of steps, making it impossible for people with disabilities to enter independently.

Summary

The renovation of the HZMO and HZZO building in Požega removed the ramp for people with disabilities.
The only entrance to the building is now a high flight of steps, making it impossible for people with mobility issues to enter independently.
Citizens have been waiting for nearly two months for a response from the relevant institutions on how to resolve the issue.

Make 5MIN.hr a preferred source

In Požega, after the building housing the regional offices of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) was renovated, people with disabilities can no longer enter without assistance. During the works, the ramp that had stood beside the steps before the renovation was removed, leaving a high flight of stairs as the only entrance to the building.

As journalist Mateo Pejaković reports for the portal Požeški.hr, the entrance was completed about two months ago, but the key principle of accessibility for all users was not respected in the project. Photos published by the same portal show that before the works, there was a ramp on the right side of the old staircase that could be used by people with mobility difficulties.

Theory vs. Practice

Although people with disabilities currently make up 17 percent of the total population, accessibility issues in Croatia have been discussed for years. According to the technical regulation on ensuring the accessibility of buildings, which implements the EU directive into Croatian law, all public and commercial buildings must meet accessibility standards during reconstruction.

Article 5 of this regulation clearly states that the building owner must maintain accessible elements and must not hinder the use of assistive devices for people with disabilities. However, the example from Požega shows that the regulation is not consistently enforced in practice.

Citizens Await a Response

As things stand now, individuals who need to avail themselves of services related to pension or health insurance can only do so if they can manage the steps. And that is precisely the biggest problem for wheelchair users, as well as for the elderly and parents with young children.

Požeški.hr warns that citizens requiring an accessible entrance have been unable to enter the HZMO and HZZO building in Požega independently for nearly two months. A response from the relevant authorities is still awaited regarding when the problem will be resolved and whether people with disabilities will be provided with unimpeded access.