Croatia boosts tourist healthcare – more clinics, faster care, no extra cost

ZAGREB, 10 July (Hina) – The number of additional teams in health centres providing medical care for tourists has increased, and from 1 April to 31 December these teams are active at 56 locations, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

The teams will provide tourists with basic medical services, including issuing prescriptions for medicines and referrals for urgent medical examinations, all covered by the patients’ health insurers.

These services are also free of charge for individuals entitled to care under the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), as well as for those insured under EU regulations and international agreements.

“This makes healthcare faster, more accessible, and more efficient, offering stronger support to both foreign and domestic visitors,” the ministry said, adding that last year such teams operated at 37 locations.

The ministries of health and tourism jointly invested over €600,000 in equipping and operating the additional teams. The initiative is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the HZZO, county authorities, and health centres.

Tourist healthcare in health centres will be organised in the counties of Istria, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Lika-Senj, Zadar, Šibenik-Knin, Split-Dalmatia, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Osijek-Baranja, and Bjelovar-Bilogora.

According to HZZO data, by early July, 1,158 tourist visits to the additional teams had been recorded, with the highest numbers in Pula, Poreč, Umag, Novalja, Tisno, and Vodice.

Last year, the additional teams recorded over 26,500 visits, significantly easing the burden on primary care clinics, emergency medical services, and hospital emergency departments, the Health Ministry said.

“With the helicopter emergency medical service, emergency medical boats, mobile pharmacies, and reinforced additional teams in health centres, Croatia is undoubtedly one of the safest tourist destinations in the European Union,” said Minister Irena Hrstić.