Dr. Ante Ćorušić is a well-known name in Croatian medical and political life. as a specialist in gynecology and obstetrics and long-term director KBC Zagreb, Ćorušić left a significant mark in the health system of the Republic of Croatia. In addition to his professional career in medicine, he also actively participated in political life as a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), often expressing his views on key social and health issues. His work, attitudes and contributions were often the subject of public debate, and his role in health system reforms attracted a lot of public attention.
Early life and education of Dr. Ante Ćorušić
Dr. Ante Ćorušić was born in 1959 in Imotski, in the then Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He spent his childhood in his hometown, and after finishing primary and secondary school, he entered the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb, where he obtained a doctorate in medicine.
After completing his medical studies, he decided to specialize in gynecology and obstetrics, which he also completed in Zagreb. During his education, he stood out for his dedication and interest in women’s health, which would later mark his professional career. His professional development continued through work in leading Croatian health institutions, where he gained experience that would lead him to leading positions in the health system.
Medical career and specialization in gynecology
After completing specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Dr. Ante Ćorušić He started his medical career at the Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center, also known as Rebro, one of the most important health institutions in Croatia. During his years of work, he trained in the field of reproductive health, obstetrics and treatment of gynecological diseases.
With his dedicated work and professional knowledge, he quickly gained a reputation among colleagues and patients, and over time he progressed to the position of head of the Clinic for Women’s Diseases and Childbirth. In addition to clinical work, he actively participated in the education of young doctors, as a mentor and lecturer, and contributed to the development of the gynecological profession in Croatia.
A special focus in his career was on the problems of infertility and medically assisted reproduction, topics that often provoked public and political debates. Dr. Ćorušić is known for his firm and clearly expressed views, which further emphasized his presence in public space.
position of director at KBC Zagreb and contribution to healthcare
Dr. Ante Ćorušić was appointed director of the Zagreb Clinical Hospital Center in 2014, which marked the beginning of his most prominent management mandate in Croatian healthcare. KBC Zagreb, as the largest and most important hospital institution in the country, represents a reference center for numerous medical specialties and a key institution for the health system of the Republic of Croatia.
During his mandate, Ćorušić emphasized the need for modernization of hospital infrastructure, improving the working conditions of health professionals and reducing administrative burden. He also advocated for the rationalization of costs and the introduction of a more efficient management system for hospital resources.
One of its major challenges was the reorganization of the hospital’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic, when KBC Zagreb became one of the main hotspots for the care of seriously ill patients. During that period, he managed crisis teams and ensured the adaptation of the hospital system to the new conditions, which caused numerous reactions in the public, but also recognition for efforts and organization.
His director’s role was also marked by numerous public statements regarding the situation in health, reforms and problems within the hospital system. As director, Dr. Ćorušić left a strong personal stamp on the way the institution was run, which makes him one of the most recognizable people in Croatian medicine.
Political engagement through HDZ and representative mandate
Dr. In addition to his medical career, Ante Ćorušić also left a significant mark in the political life of Croatia, as a long-time member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). His political activity began at the end of the 1990s, and intensified in the years that followed, especially through engagement in party bodies and statements related to health policy and social issues.
In the parliamentary elections in 2011, he was elected as a member of parliament of the HDZ, and he also held his position after the 2015 elections. In the Croatian Parliament, he was an active member of the Committee for Health and Social Policy, where he often expressed views related to the organization of the health system, hospital financing and the issue of reproductive health.
Special attention of the public was attracted by his conservative views on issues such as abortion, medically assisted fertilization and protection of life from conception. Ćorušić often publicly opposed the liberalization of the abortion law and advocated strict regulation, which caused both praise and criticism, depending on the political and social spectrum.
His political role was specific in that he was both a practitioner in health and a member of Parliament, thus combining expert knowledge and legislative action. Although in the meantime he withdrew from the parliamentary bench, he still retains political influence within the HDZ and regularly comments on current social and health issues
Controversies, attitudes and influence on public debates
Dr. For years, Ante Ćorušić was one of the most memorable figures in Croatian healthcare and politics precisely because of his open, often polarizing attitudes. His public appearances and statements regularly provoked strong reactions, both support and criticism, especially in the context of socially sensitive topics such as the right to abortion, medically assisted fertilization, women’s rights and health reforms.
One of the most notable controversies is related to his opposition to the liberalization of the right to abortion. Ćorušić declared himself an advocate of “protection of life from conception” and often expressed views in accordance with the conservative current, which brought him into conflict with part of the professional and the general public, especially in the context of women’s right to choose. His statement that women often used abortion as a “method of contraception”, which caused stormy reactions in the media and among associations for the protection of women’s rights, also provoked criticism.
It was also the subject of public controversy due to comments and statements that many considered inappropriate for a person at the head of one of the most important medical institutions in the country. On the other hand, his advocates emphasized his expertise, determination and consistency in the fight for health system reform and the preservation of traditional values.
Ćorušić’s influence on public debates was especially visible during the parliamentary debates on laws concerning healthcare and family, as well as in moments of crisis such as a pandemic. Although his statements did not always meet with general approval, there is no doubt that he encouraged dialogue with his public appearances and was one of the key participants in the shaping of health and social policies in Croatia.
