Sailing holidays-Medical care in Croatia

Croatia has mandatory public insurance for all Croatian citizens,   by which citizens are required to contribute according to their ability to pay and receive basic health care services according to their needs. (Contribution excludes children under 18, students, people  in Croatia that are incapable of independent life, members and disabled members of Croatian armed forces…)

There are hundreds of healthcare institutions in Croatia, including 79 hospitals and clinics with 25.285 beds, caring for more than 760.000 patients per year. Ownership of hospitals is shared between the state and the counties of Croatia.

On the Croatian islands, there are usually local ambulances and doctors on duty throughout the year. They are authorized in case of need to hire a helicopter or fast transport to the first major hospital.

Which kinds of health insurance are available for EU citizens?

For tourists in Croatia with an EU health card insurance, it is also mostly a free medical service. Medicines that may be prescribed are charged (pharmacy).

What if you don’t have an EU card?

For tourists without insurance and outside the EU, the price of a regular first check-up and advice is approximately up to 350 kn (approx. 54 €). Other prices are going from 40kn (5,4 €) for ear lavage, removal of stiches 150kn (aprox 20 €) etc which is the most common during the summertime. Emergency Intervention by sea (transport by sea) is charged 3000 kn (approx. 400 €).For classic summer ailments and illnesses, healthcare prices are affordable.

How to communicate with doctors?

In Croatia, the study of medicine lasts 6 years, followed by specialization. All doctors are proffesionals,  speaking  Croatian and English, so there should be no language barriers.

What if you have a toothache?

To avoid waiting in the emergency room, we recommend that you consult a private dentist. It is known that dental medicine in Croatia is very affordable compared to Italy, Austria, Germany, so in Croatia “dental tourism” is increasingly developing. Dental fillings in a private practice can cost you from 250-400 kn (33 € -53 €), and placing a crown aprox 270 €.

Croatian medical system

Although not all dispensaries and hospitals in Croatia are the most modern, it is still a long-term experience of free health care that Croatia inherited from the socialist era. Professional, responsible teams also proved themselves during the Covid 19 era, when Croatia had excellent results in the fight against the virus.

In the last 20 years, private specialized hospitals have also become the most popular, which in the free health care system can wait for months for an appointment. Those private clinics are modern, fast and specialized from plastic surgery to diagnoses etc.