Navigating Croatian healthcare as an English speaker is manageable — English is widely spoken among younger doctors and clinic staff, especially in Zagreb. But knowing key terms helps you understand paperwork, make appointments, and communicate your needs clearly.
The Basics: Your Place in the System
HZZO — Hrvatska zavoda za zdravstveno osiguranje — Croatian Health Insurance Fund. The public insurance system. If you're a Croatian citizen or resident, this is your coverage.
JMBG / OIB — Your personal identification number. JMBG is the older format (13-digit); OIB (Osobni identifikacijski broj) is the 11-digit tax/ID number used in healthcare. You'll need this for HZZO-covered services. Foreign nationals may use their passport or EHIC instead.
EHIC — European Health Insurance Card. EU citizens can use this for emergency and medically necessary care at HZZO rates in Croatia. Not a substitute for travel insurance, but very useful for unexpected needs.
Izabrani liječnik — Your chosen/assigned GP (general practitioner). Croatia's system assigns everyone a GP based on location. You register with one, and they're your first point of contact. Say: "Trebam izabranog liječnika" (I need a GP).
Specijalista / Specijalist — Specialist doctor. You typically need a referral (uputnica) from your GP to see one. Infectious disease specialists (infektolog) are key for PrEP and HIV care.
Infektolog — Infectious disease specialist. The doctor who prescribes and monitors PrEP and manages HIV treatment in Croatia. UHID is the main centre.
Privatna klinika / Poliklinika — Private clinic / polyclinic. No referral needed. You pay out of pocket.
Appointments and Registration
| Croatian | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Naručiti se | na-ROO-chee-tee seh | To make an appointment |
| Termin | TEHR-min | Appointment time/slot |
| Uputnica | oo-POOT-nee-tsa | Referral (from GP to specialist) |
| Recept | REH-tsept | Prescription |
| Privatni recept | Private prescription (not HZZO covered) | |
| Iskaznica | ees-KAZ-nee-tsa | Health insurance card (HZZO card) |
| Čekati | CHEH-ka-tee | To wait |
| Čekaonica | cheh-ka-OH-nee-tsa | Waiting room |
Useful phrases:
"Trebam pregled" — I need an examination. "Imam uputnicu od liječnika" — I have a referral from my doctor. "Govorite li engleski?" — Do you speak English? "Imam EHIC karticu" — I have the EHIC card. "Nemam zdravstveno osiguranje" — I don't have health insurance.
Sexual Health and Testing
| Croatian | English |
|---|---|
| Spolno prenosive bolesti (SPB) | Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) |
| HIV test | HIV test |
| Anonymni test | Anonymous test |
| Bris | Swab (for testing) |
| Bris grla | Throat swab |
| Rektalni bris | Rectal swab |
| Bris uretre | Urethral swab |
| Krv / Krvna pretraga | Blood / Blood test |
| Urin / Urinokultura | Urine / Urine culture |
| Rezultati | Results |
| Pozitivan / Negativan | Positive / Negative |
When asking for a full STI panel:
"Htio bih kompletan SPB panel — grlo, rektum i uretra" (I'd like a complete STI panel — throat, rectum, and urethra)
At CheckPoint Zagreb or Iskorak: Staff speak English and are experienced with gay and bisexual men. You can simply speak English — don't worry about Croatian here.
HIV, PrEP, and PEP
| Croatian | English |
|---|---|
| PrEP (Preekspozicijska profilaksa) | PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) |
| PEP (Postekspozicijska profilaksa) | PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis) |
| HIV pozitivan / negativan | HIV positive / negative |
| Nedetektabilan | Undetectable (viral load) |
| Viralna opterećenost | Viral load |
| CD4 stanice | CD4 cells |
| Antiretrovirusna terapija (ART) | Antiretroviral therapy (ART) |
| UHID | University Hospital for Infectious Diseases (Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević") |
Asking for PEP in an emergency:
"Trebam postekspozicijsku profilaksu (PEP) hitno" (I need post-exposure prophylaxis — PEP — urgently)
Go to UHID (Mihaljevićeva 14, Zagreb) or the nearest KBC emergency department and say this.
Vaccines
| Croatian | English |
|---|---|
| Cjepivo | Vaccine |
| Cijepljenje | Vaccination |
| Hepatitis A / B | Hepatitis A / B |
| HPV cjepivo | HPV vaccine |
| Ospice majmuna / Mpox | Mpox |
| Recept za cjepivo | Vaccine prescription |
Mental Health
| Croatian | English |
|---|---|
| Psiholog | Psychologist |
| Psihijatar | Psychiatrist |
| Savjetovalište | Counselling centre |
| Kriza | Crisis |
| Hitna psihijatrijska pomoć | Emergency psychiatric help |
In an Emergency
Emergency numbers:
- 112 — General emergency (police, ambulance, fire) — English-speaking operators available
- 194 — Ambulance only (Hitna medicinska pomoć)
- 192 — Police
- 193 — Fire
At the emergency department:
"Trebam hitnu pomoć" — I need emergency help. "Bol je jaka" — The pain is severe. "Imam alergiju na..." — I'm allergic to... "Uzimam lijekove..." — I'm taking medication...
Emergency departments (Hitna služba / Hitni prijem):
- UHID Zagreb: Mihaljevićeva 14 — for infectious disease emergencies, PEP
- KBC Zagreb: Kišpatićeva 12 — general emergency
- KBC Split: Spinčićeva 1 — if in Split
- KBC Rijeka: Krešimirova 42 — if in Rijeka
Navigating the System
The most important thing to know: CheckPoint Zagreb (huhiv.hr) operates in English and is the single best first call for any sexual health navigation in Croatia. If you're uncertain about vocabulary, paperwork, or where to go — contact them first.
HUHIV / CheckPoint Zagreb: Ulica kneza Domagoja 10, Zagreb — walk-in or by appointment. Iskorak: Šenoina 34, Zagreb — LGBTQ+ health and support, English spoken.