Overview of the Croatian healthcare system
The primary objective of the healthcare system is to improve public health, prevent diseases, enable timely diagnosis, ensure effective treatment, and provide rehabilitation. It is founded on the principles of solidarity and universality, and its main governing body is the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO).
Healthcare services in the Republic of Croatia are delivered at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, as well as through public health institutes. In addition to public institutions, private healthcare providers also operate within the system. These private entities often lease premises in state-owned health centres and must meet specific criteria, including a minimum number of registered patients and a defined scope of healthcare services.
Insured individuals receive primary healthcare services through compulsory health insurance by freely choosing a general practitioner or dentist, typically based on their place of residence, in accordance with the general regulations of the HZZO. Access to secondary and tertiary healthcare services is granted based on a referral issued by the insured person’s selected primary care provider.
Primary level
Primary healthcare services include general (family) medicine, health protection for preschool children, school and adolescent medicine focused on preventive and educational measures, public health, women’s health services, dental care and dental laboratories, hygiene and epidemiological services, occupational and sports medicine, mental health care, outpatient mental illness and disorder treatment, addiction treatment, speech therapy, home visits by nurses (patronage services), nursing counselling, home nursing care, midwifery services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, emergency medicine, medical transportation, palliative care, pharmacy services, radiological diagnostics, laboratory diagnostics, sanitary engineering, and psychological services.
Secondary level
Secondary healthcare includes specialist-consultative and hospital care. Certain services typically provided at the primary level may also be offered at the secondary level, such as occupational and sports medicine, speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and palliative care.
Specialist-consultative services offer more complex measures and procedures than those provided at the primary level. These include disease and injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment, outpatient rehabilitation, home medical rehabilitation, care in social welfare institutions, and nursing services. These services may be delivered in health centres or day hospitals.
Hospital services encompass diagnosis, treatment, medical rehabilitation, nursing care, patient accommodation and nutrition, and other activities supporting the core healthcare functions of medical institutions.
Tertiary level
Tertiary healthcare services include all activities of the secondary level, as well as the most complex forms of specialist-consultative and hospital care. They also involve scientific research, medical education in cooperation with educational institutions, and other supporting activities.
Tertiary healthcare is delivered by clinics, clinical hospitals, and clinical hospital centres.
