[Medical specialists in Croatia: general overview, possibilities in planning and education in the future].

The paper describes the dynamics of trends in the number of specialists and the differences that have arisen over a 14-year period among individual specialties. Shown and analysed separately is the basic demographic information (obtained from the National Health Workers Registry) about the specialists working in Croatia in 2000. The data were used to illustrate the two options for planning them: by statistical method for analysing a time sequence and by prediction of specialist needs by anticipated old age retirement.

[Demographic and educational characteristics of physicians in the health care system in Croatia: overview] ].

The structure of 10,146 physicians working in Croatia's health system in 1990 and that of 11,103 working in 1999 are compared in terms of age, sex and level of training (intern, unspecialized doctor, resident, and specialist). Comparison of the same 5-year groups with reference to 1990 uncovered a reduction in the share of the two youngest 5-year physician groups (ages 25-29 and 30-34 years) in the total physician population working in 1999. Between 1990 and 1999, the average age of working physicians increased from 44.