On November 15th, the Croatian Minister of Health, Vili Beros, along with several others, were detained on suspicion of corruption. This action was part of an investigation initiated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The country’s Prime Minister has already dismissed the Health Minister from office.
The EPPO stated that Minister Beros, as well as the directors of two hospitals in the Croatian capital Zagreb, and two companies were suspected of “receiving and giving bribes, abusing power, and money laundering.”
According to the Croatian national news agency, Hina, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic swiftly fired Beros from the government. Croatian media reported that the police raided Beros’s home in Zagreb on Friday morning.
During a press conference, Plenkovic stated, “I am personally shocked by anyone who uses their position in the healthcare system to seek personal gain or provide favors to others. The healthcare system is a particularly sensitive sector. Regardless of who they are or what positions they hold, if suspected of criminal activities, as a government, we will neither protect nor shield anyone from prosecution.”
Beros’s lawyer has denied the corruption charges.
Croatia faces serious issues in systemic and political corruption. Among the 27 EU member states, it is commonly ranked as one of the most corrupt countries by international anti-corruption organizations.
The EPPO’s statement revealed that between June 2022 and November 2024, the five suspects collaborated in providing financial rewards and promises to relevant stakeholders to secure undue economic benefits for two companies. They ensured that one of the companies was allowed to sell medical robotic equipment to several hospitals in Croatia. The group also allegedly offered bribes to manipulate public procurement processes, eliminate market competition, and support this company.
The statement further mentioned, “Other suspects provided and delivered bribes to several stakeholders in the public health system, including the Health Minister and the directors of two hospitals, to gain their support for contracts funded by the EU or Croatian national budget.”
Prosecutors stated that these bribery acts occurred at least four times, but they were unsuccessful in a EU-funded project in the Croatian coastal city of Split, where the person in charge rejected the offered bribes.
The EPPO mentioned that in three other hospitals in Zagreb, after receiving bribes, Health Minister Beros approved the purchase of surgical microscopes at unreasonably high prices and allocated funds for related public procurements.
The statement indicated that the prices of this equipment “unreasonably inflated” to nearly 620,000 euros (approximately 654,000 US dollars).
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is an independent EU office responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating crimes that infringe upon the financial interests of the European Union.
(Reference: The Associated Press)