Healthcare System in Croatia: everything you need to know

How does the Croatian Healthcare System work?

Croatia offers a universal Healthcare System to all its citizens and residents. There is a basic health plan called Obvezno, which covers Croatia’s whole population. Everyone must contribute a certain amount of money to the public system depending on their personal payment capacity. With these contributions, Health Services are guaranteed to everyone. 

There are two options in case you want to obtain additional and complementary coverage. Dopunsko is an option both public and private that offers coverage for the majority of copays incurred when seeking medical attention, buying medicines, undergoing medical exams or hospitalizations. 

Dodatno offers the highest coverage degree in Croatia. This option covers  long-term treatments, long stays at the hospital and medical appointments with specialists, as well as laboratory exams. Dodatno can be hired through private businesses and banks. 

The Ministry of Health is in charge of the entire system, and must look after the health policies, besides monitoring all three subsystems. The Ministry of Finances is in charge of the budget the government has for everything health related. 

All citizens must have a main doctor, locally known as family doctor. This professional is the one you have to go to in the first place in case of any medical needs. Depending on the plan you have, the system will assign you a doctor. You might also have the option to choose one, and can also change doctors once a year if you wish too. 

How does the system operate for foreigners?

All foreigners living permanently in Croatia must affiliate themselves to the local Healthcare System. They have to pay a monthly contribution in order to access all health services, and they can choose which level they’d like to be a part of. 

There is also the option to attend a private consultation and pay full price. 

When traveling as a tourist, you must hire travel insurance that allows you to seek medical attention and be reimbursed for it. 

To quote and hire the best Travel or International Health Insurance, visit InternationalHealth.com, where you’ll find a wide variety of insurances with coverage not only in Croatia, but in the whole Schengen area. You can compare, quote and hire from a variety of the insurances in the market today, without additional costs and 100% online. 

How do pharmacies in Croatia work?

Croatia has a wide variety of pharmacies, both public and private, that offer prescribed and non-prescribed medicines. In the case of individual pharmacies, the owner has to be a pharmacist and he or she must be the one operating it. 

Pharmacies are the only establishments authorized to sell prescribed medicines. Usually, the doctor sends your prescription directly to the pharmacy via mail.

Most medicines are covered by the mandatory plan (Obvezno). Nonetheless, unless you have private insurance you will still have to pay a small percentage of the price. 

If you’re only traveling for a limited time and must take certain medicines periodically, the best option is to take them with you from your country of origin. Travel with them on their original packaging and the prescription detailing the amount of medicine you need to carry with you.

What should I do in case of an emergency?

Same as throughout the EU, the number for general emergencies is 112. There are also some numbers for more specific services, which are:

Police: 192

Firefighters: 193

Highway Assistance: 1987

For all affiliated to the system, ambulance services are completely free. If you’re a tourist, you’ll have to pay full price. 

Entry Requirements

There are no current restrictions regarding Covid-19 in order to enter Croatia.

Remember Croatia is a member of the EU, and therefore, restrictions are the same as in other membered countries. Depending on your nationality, you might need a Visa to enter the country.