Vili Beroš is a Croatian politician and neurosurgeon, who was the Minister of Health from 2020 to 2024. He was born on December 13, 1964 in Split, and completed his education on the island of Hvar (primary and secondary school in Jelsa). He studied at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb and graduated in 1989 with a high grade point average (4.83). During his career, he specialized in neurosurgery and received the title of Doctor of Science, and in 2011 he received the title primarius (the highest medical rank). Below we present a more detailed chronology and analysis of his career, professional achievements and the controversies that marked him.
Key Dates and Facts
- 1964. – Born in Split.
- 1989. – Graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb.
- 1998. – completed his specialization in neurosurgery (KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb).
- 2006. – Defense of the doctoral dissertation (Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Zagreb).
- 2011. – assigned the name of the primarius, thus becoming the leading expert in his field.
- 2018 – He was appointed assistant to the Minister of Health.
- January 28, 2020 – takes over the position of Minister of Health.
- November 15, 2024. – He was arrested in a corruption investigation and relieved of his duties.
This chronological overview provides a basic insight into the most important milestones in the life and career of Vili Beroš, on which we rely on the text.
Early life and education
Vili Beroš attended primary and secondary school in Jelsa on the island of Hvar. After completing his compulsory military service, he entered the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb, where he graduated in 1989 with an average grade of 4.83. As a student, he published several scientific papers, which showed an early interest in scientific research work.
After graduation, Beroš completed an internship at the KBC of the Sisters of Mercy in Zagreb, and passed the professional medical exam in 1990. In the same decade, he began his specialization in neurosurgery at the same clinic, which he completed in 1998. During this period, he developed skills and knowledge that later shaped him as experts and executives in healthcare.
Medical and academic work
As a specialist in neurosurgery, Beroš remained employed at KBC Sisters of Mercy. In parallel, he continued his professional development and academic work. In 2006, at the Faculty of Science and Mathematics of the University of Zagreb, he defended his doctoral dissertation in molecular biology, thus obtaining the title of Doctor of Science. His doctorate and published papers have shown interest in central nervous system tumors and key genetic mechanisms in them.
After his doctorate, his career progressed further in the academy. In 2012, he was appointed assistant professor, and soon an associate professor at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation of the University of Zagreb. At the same time, in 2011, the Ministry of Health awarded him the honor of the title of primarius – recognition for a prominent and respected doctor. He is a member of numerous professional associations and a permanent court expert in the field of neurosurgery. With this, Beroš was an established name in medical circles and academy until he came to politics.
political career
Entering the Ministry of Health
Previous experiences in medical practice and management have prepared Beroš for work in public administration. He became better known to the Croatian public in 2018, when he was appointed assistant minister of health in the HDZ government. He then took on the tasks of coordination and reform initiatives in healthcare. As a member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) and a close associate of the then Minister Milan Kujundžić, he participated in negotiations with doctors and planning of public health measures.
After the dismissal of Minister Kujundžić, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković proposed Vili Beroš as the new Minister of Health. On January 28, 2020, the Croatian Parliament confirmed his appointment, and Beroš officially assumed the position of ministerial office. From that moment on, he led the Ministry of Health, first during the mandate of Andrej Plenković (Sabor), and then during the interface with other economic challenges.
The role in the COVID-19 pandemic
The main event of Beroš’s ministerial mandate was the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected Croatia and the world at the beginning of 2020. As Minister of Health, he was in charge of enacting and coordinating measures to combat the spread of the virus. In November 2020, he personally contracted the coronavirus and announced that he was positive for COVID-19, which indicated the seriousness of the situation in society. During the Croatian presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020, Beroš held coordination meetings of health ministers from all EU members and mediated about a common response to the pandemic.
Under his leadership, announced public health reforms began, such as the unification of public procurement of medical equipment and the audit of the HZZO drug list. However, it was the announcement of the reforms and the urgency of the pandemic that led to numerous challenges in the system, which was followed daily in the media and public debate. Many citizens and experts criticized delays in the acquisition of equipment or illogicality in the implementation of measures, but at the same time Beroš emphasized that the system under his administration is ready for crisis.
Controversies and affairs
During his ministerial mandate, Vili Beroš found himself in several controversial situations and affairs that attracted a lot of media attention. These are the most famous:
· Affair ‘Beroš vs. Zadravec’
- In August 2020, a five-minute recording of the conversation between Vili Beroš and Dijana Zadravec, then deputy director of KBC Sisters of Mercy, was leaked to the public. The video is reportedly discussing the election of a new director of the Vinograd hospital, with allusions to the possible set-up of the procedure and the interference of the then Prime Minister Plenković. Beroš rejected all irregularities, and no one officially admitted that the release of the recording was his office. Zadravec, on the other hand, previously warned about alleged corruption in the system and was dismissed because of it. This case raised a number of questions about the transparency of personnel decisions in healthcare, although it did not legally result in a conviction against ministers or directors.
· Affair ‘Cepis’ (platform for applying for vaccinations)
- In April 2021, the media reported that USKOK opened an investigation due to suspicions related to the platform ciepis.zdravlje.hr – website intended for citizens to register COVID-19 vaccination. The investigation referred to the contract that the Ministry of Health concluded with the company Cuspis (which participated in the creation of the platform) worth around HRK 196,000. Minister Beroš, director of Cuspis Maja Smolčić and her ex-husband Vinko Kojundžić, the founder of the company Media, were targeted by USKOK, they pointed out that the application was often unavailable and ineffective, which raised doubts about the legality The public procurement and implementation of the project Beroš claimed that he did not commit any illegal action, but the affair further emphasized the problems in the digitization of the vaccination system in Croatia.
· Incident of ‘two kuna’
- In June 2021, a more bizarre incident that went viral was recorded. Beroš was in a cafe in Zadar when the waitress served him coffee without a protective mask. Since the physical distance and mask for indoor employees was in effect at the time, the minister came out of the cafe after the waitress told him not to put on the mask. The question was in the media – did Beroš pay ‘two kuna’ for his coffee after that? Later, the owner of the cafe explained that the waitress was exempted from wearing a mask due to a medical certificate, which Beroš did not know on the spot. Although it was a less important event, this incident ignited the public and was used for political purposes (attributing, for example, inconsistency or duplicity).
Investigation and Resolution (2024)
In the late phase of the mandate, the development of drastic events took place. In November 2024, Vili Beroš and several other high-ranking doctors and entrepreneurs were arrested as part of a major anti-corruption action. On November 15, 2024, USKOK broke into the home of Vili Beroš and ordered extraordinary evidentiary actions. On that day, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković relieved him of the duties of Minister of Health, and appointed State Secretary Irena Hrstić as acting. USKOK’s statement explained that the arrests were the result of earlier investigations of corrupt crimes among high-ranking officials.
According to information from the media, Beroš is charged with accepting bribes and abuse of position in relation to various contracts and awards in healthcare. The investigation allegedly started initially before the International Criminal Court of the European Union (EPPO), but the domestic USKOK State Attorney’s Office took over the jurisdiction. The arrest was preceded by suspicions that he influenced the selection of contractors and suppliers of medical equipment and services, and charges were brought against him for embezzlement, money laundering and abuse of authority. Beroš’s lawyer stated that he ‘completely eliminates any criminal responsibility’, but the investigation and the court process are ongoing according to the principle of innocence. This currently continues the last and still unfinished phase of his story – the legal battle before the court.
Conclusion
Vili Beroš is an example of a politician whose career has combined a long medical practical career and management of the healthcare system in times of crisis. From a neurosurgeon and academician, he stood out as an assistant minister and then a minister of health, covering the period important because of COVID-19 reforms and pandemics. At the same time, the public also remembers him for his controversies – from audio recordings and criticism of procedures, to appeals to treatment according to epidemiological measures.
His biography so far has been marked by professional ascents, but also by serious accusations. As the legal action against him has not yet been concluded, the future will show the epilogue of this story. While we wait for the final court outcome, it is important to monitor developments and facts based on trusted sources. Let us know your thoughts And comment below if you have questions or thoughts about Vili Beroš’s work and the state of Croatian healthcare – your feedback helps us to better understand this topic together.
Sources: Data on the life and career of Vili Beroš are taken from relevant sources, including HRT news, Wikipedia profile and media articles, which have been reviewed for information about his education, work biography and recent events. Cover photo: © European Union, 1998 – 2025, Public Domain, Via Wikimedia Commons
