ZAGREB, 29 April (Hina) - The Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday that, in cooperation with counties and health centres, a system of mobile clinics is being established to cover nearly 80% of Croatia’s rural, remote, and island areas.
New mobile pharmacies are also being launched.
Doctors and nurses, equipped with the necessary medical facilities inside specially adapted vehicles for primary health care, will travel to small, isolated settlements where healthcare services have so far been unavailable. They will examine patients, prescribe therapies, issue referrals and prescriptions, and make home visits to bedridden patients.
The project aims to provide better healthcare for the elderly and people with reduced mobility. A total of 33 vehicles will be purchased and distributed across counties. The project is valued at €5.3 million and is scheduled for completion within 14 months.
Two vehicles each will be allocated to the health centres of the counties of Bjelovar-Bilogora, Koprivnica-Križevci, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sisak-Moslavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varaždin, Virovitica-Podravina and Zadar. One vehicle each will be assigned to the health centres in the counties of Krapina-Zagorje, Osijek-Baranja, Požega-Slavonia, Zagreb, as well as to facilities in Korčula, Čakovec, Gospić, Metković, Vojnić, Ozalj, Vinkovci, Knin, Slavonski Brod, Vukovar, Županja, Nova Gradiška and various Istrian towns.
Several strategic projects have been completed or are nearing completion, which will significantly improve quality of life in rural, deprived, and remote areas, contribute to demographic renewal, and integrate modern digital technologies into Croatia’s healthcare system, the ministry said.
Mobile pharmacies in campers and boats
As part of these efforts, new mobile pharmacies are being introduced. Six camper vans equipped as pharmacies, complete with the necessary medical equipment and software, are being procured at a cost of €1.15 million.
Delivery of the first two vehicles begins today. In addition, two pharmacy boats are being acquired, valued at €1.87 million.
The camper vans will serve the counties of Lika-Senj, Karlovac, Sisak-Moslavina, Brod-Posavina, Vukovar-Srijem, and Zagreb, while the boats will operate in Zadar County and cover surrounding islands.
The project aims to improve access to pharmaceutical services in areas lacking pharmacies or pharmacy depots, ensuring better access to medicines for local populations and tourists, particularly in rural and island communities.
Emergency helicopter service has carried out 1,573 missions
The Ministry of Health emphasised that it is continuously investing in strengthening mobile healthcare, ensuring a more even distribution of services across Croatia.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service began operations on 30 March 2024, marking the first time Croatia has had a functioning helicopter medical network. HEMS bases are located in Zagreb, Osijek, Split, and Rijeka. Since its launch, HEMS has carried out 1,573 missions: Zagreb base conducted 213 interventions, Osijek 65, Rijeka (stationed on Krk island) 605, and Split (stationed on Brač island) 690 interventions.
These figures clearly show the significant number of lives saved, demonstrating the justification for introducing this model of emergency medical service, the Ministry noted.
The Maritime Emergency Medical Service is also a key project aimed at improving healthcare access, with a special focus on the islands. It consists of six high-speed boats stationed in Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Zadar, Mali Lošinj, Rab, and Milna (Brač). This project, worth €10.1 million, has so far recorded a total of 523 missions: 173 from Brač, 149 from Šibenik, 72 from Zadar, 53 from Rab, 42 from Mali Lošinj, and 34 from Dubrovnik.
