New Ordinance on Medical Specialization: What It Means for Young Doctors

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The Ministry of Health published a brand new Ordinance on Specialist Training of Medical Doctors in the Official Gazette (Narodne novine, NN 71/2026) on July 3, 2026. Here’s what changes for thousands of young doctors in Croatia.

The new regulation introduces systemic changes to how young doctors specialize — from clearer criteria for mentors, through four levels of competencies, to mandatory anonymous surveys that trainees use to evaluate the quality of education.

Four Levels of Competence

The Ordinance introduces 4 levels of acquired competencies that track trainee progress:

  1. Level 1 — Trainee observes, has knowledge, describes
  2. Level 2 — Performs under direct supervision
  3. Level 3 — Performs under remote supervision
  4. Level 4 — Performs independently

Mentor Can Supervise Maximum 3 Trainees

A key novelty is the limit on the number of trainees per mentor:

  • Maximum 3 trainees per mentor
  • Exceptionally 5 if there are not enough mentors
  • Mentor must have at least 5 years of specialist experience
  • Head mentor: 10 years of experience or academic title

National Commission — Young Doctors Get a Voice

A National Commission for Specialist Training of Medical Doctors is established, composed of:

  • 3 representatives of the Ministry of Health
  • 2 representatives of the Croatian Medical Association
  • 2 representatives of the Croatian Medical Chamber
  • 1 representative of the National Health Council
  • 1 representative from each medical faculty
  • 1 representative of the Academy of Medical Sciences
  • 1 representative of the Croatian Society of Young Doctors

Transparency and Annual Surveys

Each authorized institution must:

  • Publish an annual quality report on its website by January 15
  • Conduct anonymous surveys among trainees (once a year)
  • Publish a list of authorizations, mentors, and program components

Entry into Force

The Ordinance was published in NN 71/2026 on July 3, 2026 and enters into force on the eighth day after publication — approximately July 11, 2026.

Currently, over 3,000 doctors are in specialization in Croatia. The new Ordinance addresses the most common complaints: insufficient mentor supervision, unclear advancement criteria, and lack of systematic feedback.

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