HIV care in Croatia is centralized primarily at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases (UHID) in Zagreb, where you will receive specialist care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) fully covered by the national health insurance (HZZO). HUHIV offers essential psychosocial support, community, and advocacy for people living with HIV across Croatia.
🩺 Diagnosis Pathway
If you receive a reactive (positive) result from a rapid test or community testing site, your next step is a confirmatory blood test at the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases (UHID) in Zagreb, which serves as the national center for HIV care.
In full, this is the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević" (Mirogojska cesta 8, Zagreb), home to the national HIV/AIDS reference centre. A reactive result from a community CheckPoint (HUHIV) links you there directly; a GP referral (uputnica) isn't a precondition for being seen with a reactive screening result, though having one helps with public-insurance (HZZO) billing.
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, the standard process is:
- Initial Assessment: You will be assigned a specialist at UHID who will run baseline bloodwork, including your viral load, CD4 count, and screening for other STIs or co-infections.
- Starting ART: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is usually initiated promptly. All HIV medication and associated medical care are fully covered by the national health insurance (HZZO).
- Routine Monitoring: After your viral load becomes undetectable, you will transition to a regular schedule of check-ups to monitor your health and renew your prescriptions.
Your ART is dispensed centrally from the UHID hospital pharmacy in Zagreb — that national reference centre, not your GP, is your hub for supplies and monitoring. If you don't have HZZO cover (for example while sorting residency), the reference centre is the point of contact for people without insurance: contact UHID directly and lean on HUHIV to help you navigate access.
If you need help navigating this process, reaching out to the community organization HUHIV is highly recommended. They provide peer support, psychological counseling, and practical guidance on entering the Croatian care system.
⚖️ Disclosure & the Law
U=U is the medical baseline. On treatment with an undetectable viral load, you cannot transmit HIV sexually — this is settled science, and it underpins everything below.
Croatia has no HIV-specific criminal law. While the general Criminal Code penalizes the "Spread and Transmission of Contagious Disease" (Article 180), there is no evidence of routine HIV criminalization or a positive legal duty to disclose your status before sex. Because U=U means transmission is impossible, engaging in sex with an undetectable viral load effectively removes the risk of causing harm. For any legal or social concerns regarding your status, HUHIV (huhiv.hr) provides excellent, confidential navigation and support. The legal position can change, so if you're ever unsure where you stand, get current, confidential advice from them or your clinic's HIV team rather than from apps, partners, or rumour.