Medical Tourism in Croatia 2022

by Welcome Center Croatia | Last updated Jan 30, 2022 | Published on Jan 30, 2022

The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Croatia are turquoise waters, impressive coastline, and narrow streets of centuries-old towns. But did you know that Croatia is also known for extraordinary medical experts and affordable private treatments? Medical tourism in Croatia is on a rise, and soon this Mediterranean country could become the world leader in the field.

The concept of medical travel is not new, but it is gaining popularity in recent years. Among the countries that offer decent medical care at affordable prices are Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Costa Rica, and since 2018 Croatia.

The first clinic in Croatia that opened its doors to foreigners was the Hvar Health Society, and many other private clinics followed. Soon this Adriatic country could be the leader for medical tourism in the world, and take the crown from other destinations.

What medical treatments can you do in Croatia?

Private clinics in Croatia offer a variety of treatments and health services, but to name a few dental care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, cosmetic surgery, and superlative care are among the most popular ones for health tourists. With the reasonable costs of these treatments, you are saving from 40% to 80% compared to your home country.

Dental care is as important for your mental health as it is for your physical health, but it is often overlooked because the insurance doesn’t cover the cost or we don’t realize how important it is. Treatments like implants, dentures, veneers, and teeth whitening are way more affordable in destinations like Croatia than in the USA for example.

One of the first clinics that started with dental tourism in Croatia is Bagatin, a well-known private clinic that covers cosmetology, dentistry, plastic surgery, and dermatology. They are not the only clinic that works in these fields but they are the most experienced and award-winning clinic with excellent surgeons. They also help you book the entire trip, and offer concierge services.

Laser eye surgery is performed for a fraction of the price of western countries, but with the same efficiency and care. Svjetlost Eye Clinic is a notable clinic, recommended by thousands of their patients. Their procedure is painless, non-invasive, and takes only about 5 minutes.

Stem cell therapy has up to an 80% success rate which is why so many people are choosing this treatment instead of traditional medicine. One of the most common examples of stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation that helps blood rebuild the immune system and fight disease. In Zagreb, you can do this treatment in several clinics, including St Catherines Specialty Hospital.

OneOme RightMed pharmacogenetic test co-founded by Mayo Clinic is the only test of its kind in entire Europe. It is performed in St Catherines Specialty Hospital and it is a revolutionary personalized medicine technology that analyzes your DNA to determine which medications will work best for you. It helps not only in the treatment of different illnesses but also in avoiding ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction).

Best cities for medical tourism in Croatia

When choosing Croatia for medical treatment you will most likely be coming to Zagreb or Split. Even though other smaller cities have excellent hospitals too, those are the two biggest cities with the largest infrastructure and most professionals.

Zagreb has been named among the best places for English-speaking clinics in Europe, including dental and dermatology clinics. International Medical Travel Journal Awards in Berlin voted one of Zagreb’s clinics as the Best Cosmetic Surgery Clinic in Europe in 2019.

Aside from dental appointments, you can also schedule visits to world-class oncologists, orthopedics, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and even for groundbreaking stem cell treatments. Split has almost the same offer as Zagreb, with some clinics having offices in both cities.

Zagreb doesn’t take all the glory, and when it comes to dental work, Istria is a very popular destination. Coastal cities close to the border with Slovenia have well-rated and affordable dental clinics, and the cities to look out for are Pula, Rovinj, and Rijeka (Kvarner region, right next to Istria). The best thing about visiting this part of the country is its wine and food culture you get to experience while there.

Zagorje region is famous for its thermal spas, like Krapinske Toplice, Stubičke Toplice, and Tuheljske Toplice among many others. In these small towns, you can stay in hotels that have thermal pools, and offer different spa and rehabilitation treatments.

In Krapinske Toplice a world-renowned cardiovascular clinic is treating patients from all around the world. These spas are a great getaway if you want a relaxing holiday, but also very useful in the treatment of many chronic illnesses and injuries.

Which insurance covers the expenses

Yearly about 1.6 million Americans travel abroad for medical procedures, but regular travel insurance doesn’t cover the cost of medical tourism. The cost of health tourism per year is currently between $20 and $35 billion, no wonder why so many countries are competing for those tourists, from South America to the Middle East.

Premium insurance is more expensive than ever, and a procedure that would easily cost in the US more than $100 000, abroad might be only $5 - $10 000. The major motivator for medical tourism is expensive or nonexistent insurance in the home country.

But recently some of the insurance companies have started with opening international insurance policies that would cover medical travel as well. If you decide to take one of those policies, most probably it will cover emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, acute illness, healthcare complications, and so on. Although medical tourists are coming from all over the world, Americans are leading this medical revolution.

Combine the necessity with enjoyment

Croatia is on the map of many travel lovers from around the world, and it gets more tourists every year. It offers a warm climate, cultural heritage you will love to explore, and food that every hedonist in the world lives for. So medical tourism in Croatia is not just a busy schedule with medical appointments, but also a unique holiday for you and your loved ones.