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How to find an English-speaking doctor

How to find a doctor in Croatia

When sick in your home country, you know exactly what to do and where to go. That all changes once you move to a foreign place.

Finding a doctor in Croatia that you can communicate with when you don’t speak Croatian can be the biggest headache of them all. All you want is care, and yet there are several hurdles to go through before you even see a doctor.

In this post, we cover:

The facts are these…

How to find an English-speaking doctor

How to get a doctor referral

Most people find an English-speaking doctor by referral from a friend, colleague, or other English-speaking local.

Thanks to the ever-growing expat community in Croatia, it’s getting a little easier to find an English-speaking physician. If you are not yet plugged in to the local expat community, the easiest way to get a recommendation is to post on one of the many Croatia expat Facebook groups. [Read: Expat Facebook Groups in Croatia]

In addition, the US Embassy in Zagreb has created a nifty list of English-speaking doctors in Croatia broken down by city which is available here.

Once you get a recommendation, keep in mind that not all doctors are created equal. Only public doctors are covered under HZZO and Croatian mandatory health insurance called “obvezno”. [Read: Why you must have health insurance]

For all private doctors, you’ll need to pay out of pocket. For private doctors, out of pocket fees can range from 200 to 500 kuna depending on the specialty and the service.

In addition to obvezno health insurance, you can also get:

  • Dopunsko – supplemental health insurance
  • Dodatno – the highest level of health insurance

How to look for a doctor and medical practices

Let’s say you need a cardiologist. You can google “cardiologists in Rijeka”, but you likely won’t get any results since you are searching in English.

To search for a doctor more effectively, we have created two lists to help you out. Once you know the Croatian name for the doctor or practice, you can better find the physician you need.

#1 Doctors and doctor offices

The first list that we have created is a list of the types of doctors and doctor offices translated into English and Croatian.

You can search and filter this list here.

#2 Medical practices and specialties

The second list covers medical practices and specialties. It is also translated into both English and Croatian and is easily searchable and filterable.

You can search and filter this list here.

What if you are a tourist in Croatia

If you are only in Croatia temporarily, then your best bet is to visit a poliklinika. A poliklinika is a larger practice that usually has doctors from multiple specialties on staff. They are usually not covered by state health insurance and are considered private. You’ll have a much better chance of getting an appointment and speaking with someone in English.

Agram Specijalna Bolnica is one of the biggest in Croatia, but you can just google “poliklinika” for the city you are in to find a list. Since poliklinika practices are private, there is a much higher chance of the staff speaking English.

View other healthcare posts

Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

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