RESUMO
The aim of the privatization of the primary health care is to reduce cost and improve the quality of service by introducing the market-based system. In the Republic of Croatia, the privatization of the primary health care started in 1995. It was based on renting the existing facilities at a moderate price to the practitioner. After that, the practitioner registers the private practice and signs a contract with the obligatory health insurance institution. The aim of this article is to present a part of the project of long-term research of privatization related to the health care accessibility in general practices. The research sample consisted of three groups: privatized general practices, to-be-privatized general practices and non-privatized general practices during 1997 and 1999. Privatized general practices have exhibited a significant improvement in the number of registered patients, the scheduling of first visit appointments during working hours, the possibilities of scheduling follow-up visit appointments during working hours, scheduling visits by telephone, obtaining telephone advice after working hours and visiting the practitioner after working hours. This kind of research is vital in order to bring about the necessary changes in the existing system by scientifically approved methods.