Medicine in Croatia

Croatia is one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism: the favorable climate of the Adriatic and the availability of first-class seaside resorts contribute to good health and active longevity. Despite the low level of funding, medicine in Croatia adequately copes with its tasks; The merits of Croatian cardiology and orthopedics are highly valued by the world medical community. Life expectancy in the country is higher than the European average, and is 78.3 years; at the same time, Croats rarely go to doctors and remain active until old age.

The healthcare system in Croatia

Most primary care facilities are private; hospitals and general clinics are owned by municipalities, while high-tech care centers remain state-owned. The public health system in Croatia covers only essential services; you need to pay extra about 20-30% for specialized care and 30-40% for dental treatment.

The main costs of health care in Croatia are covered by the Health Insurance Fund (CHIF), which is financed by more than three-quarters from MHI payments. A policy in the form of an electronic E-Health card with a unique identifier is issued free of charge at the Health Insurance Institute (HZZO). All working citizens and migrants with permanent visas pay insurance premiums; The amount of deductions depends on the status and level of income:

• employees – 13% of pre-tax salary plus 0.5% contribution for occupational risks;
• self-employed - 13.5% of income before tax;
• farmers - 7.5% of a certain share of the average wage;
• Pensioners - 3% of the pension above the average salary.

Children, students and unemployed youth under 26 are served under the policies of their parents; the poor, people with disabilities and the unemployed are exempt from contributions and co-financing. Foreigners with a temporary visa can receive medical care in Croatia with a comprehensive travel insurance, and citizens of EU and Eurozone countries with an EHIC card.

Licensed doctors in Croatia enter into contracts with state and municipal authorities and serve the population under compulsory medical insurance policies. In the event of hospitalization, state insurance reimburses the costs of treatment; patients pay for their stay in the hospital from their own funds or through voluntary medical insurance. Physiotherapy, reproductive technologies and plastic surgery services are not covered by insurance, with the exception of aesthetic reconstruction after a serious injury, mastectomy and in case of birth defects.

Ambulance in Croatia

Emergency and ambulance services in Croatia (tel. 112, 94) are covered by public and contractual insurance only in the event of a direct threat to life. The brigade arrives within 7–10 minutes; if the dispatcher considers that there are no grounds for leaving, the call will not be accepted or insurance payments will be denied.

In case of a sudden deterioration in health without the risk of death, emergency medical care is provided in the emergency departments of emergency hospitals, but you will have to get on your own. If you feel unwell during working hours, come to the family doctor without an appointment, warning by phone that you have an urgent case - patients with acute symptoms are taken out of turn.

How to make an appointment with a doctor in Croatia

When registering with HZZO, the patient chooses a family doctor and a pediatrician in a private or municipal clinic to whom they will contact for primary care. To visit narrow specialists, it is also required to first go to the family doctor for a referral, otherwise it will be difficult to receive compensation under compulsory medical insurance.

If you do not want to spend 3-4 hours in line, try to make an appointment with a doctor in Croatia by phone or online to schedule an appointment. The E-Health card makes it easy to make an appointment with a doctor in Croatia: you will not be bothered by standard questions about age, allergies and chronic diseases - all this data is entered into an electronic database and is available to every medical worker.

Waiting time for a doctor's appointment/consultation in Croatia

Family physicians and pediatricians see patients 7–10 days after treatment; you will have to wait longer for an appointment with a narrow specialist - at least 2-3 weeks. If you urgently need to make an appointment with a doctor in Croatia, contact a private clinic at your own expense or use telemedicine services. Remote consultation of a doctor in Croatia on the VideoDoc platform saves time and money: in typical and uncomplicated cases, a video conference is enough for an experienced doctor to make a diagnosis and make correct appointments.

The cost of a consultation and appointment with a doctor in Croatia

Without insurance, the price of a doctor's appointment in Croatia may seem high - from 82 to 125 EUR for an initial appointment with a therapist and from 100 EUR for a visit to a narrow specialist. For insured patients, the cost of a doctor's consultation in Croatia is reduced to 25-40 EUR, a visit to the dentist costs 60-70 EUR - from 18 EUR for an examination and from 42 EUR for a tooth filling; X-ray of one dental unit – 13 EUR. Foreigners with travel insurance are usually asked to pay in cash on the spot, after which they send an invoice to send to the insurance company.

Medical prescriptions in Croatia

The cost of purchasing prescription drugs is partially or fully compensated by state insurance: all prescriptions in Croatian pharmacies are paid using E-health cards, which store the history of all prescriptions. It is extremely difficult to buy strong medicines without a prescription, but you can quickly get a prescription for a medicine in Croatia through the VideoDoc online service. Appointments of accredited telemedicine consultants are not in doubt among pharmacists and insurance carriers; You keep your benefits and reimbursements, but you don't waste time waiting to see a doctor.