On 6 February 2025, the government adopted the proposal for the first speech therapy act in Croatia.
The law will regulate the issuance of licenses for independent practice, organizational forms of work, duties and responsibilities of speech therapists. In addition, it introduces professional supervision over their work, which is hoped to improve the control of the quality of services provided and ensure a safer, more efficient and more accessible support system for patients requiring speech therapy.
One of the key segments of the law is the establishment of the Croatian Chamber of Speech Therapists, initiated by the Ministry of Health and the Croatian Speech Therapy Society. The chamber will have public authority, including the issuance, renewal and revocation of licenses for independent practice, maintaining the register of speech therapists, conducting professional supervision and recognizing foreign professional qualifications in accordance with regulations on regulated professions.
The adoption of this law aligns with the goals of the National Health Development Plan 2021–2027, which emphasizes strengthening primary healthcare and increasing the availability of speech therapy services within the Public Health Network.
Reactions from the profession
The Croatian Speech Therapy Society welcomes the adoption of this law, highlighting its importance in addressing the serious shortage of professionals in this field. While the majority of professionals are concentrated in Zagreb, many counties (such as Lika-Senj, Šibenik-Knin and Dubrovnik-Neretva) face a significant shortage of staff. In addition to contributing to a more even distribution of professionals, the law is hoped to ensure the necessary regulation of the profession, ending irregular practices and ensuring high professional standards in providing speech therapy.
For more information (in Croatian) see: