Corruption is a phenomenon recognized in various fields of society whose occurrence is difficult to measure and research on it often shows a picture that is far from realistic. The type and forms of corruption are many and the phenomenon is complex and different due to numerous factors. This paper deals with the emergence of the phenomenon of corruption in the field of health and the better closely related to health. In health care, the emergence of corruption results in unequal access to health services, which should be one of the basic services guaranteed to citizens in the welfare state. The paper also presents data comparing Croatia and other countries, and points out the importance of the phenomenon of corruption within the pharmaceutical industry, which is closely related to health and at the same time directly affects many people within a health system. The overall impact of the phenomenon of corruption in health care and what are the possible strategies in combating this phenomenon are indicated and explained.