[REVISION HISTORY]

Croatia healthcare infrastructure and staffing crisis

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-20 08:01 UTC → 2026-10-27 13:39 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Croatia ~~continues to face~~ faces a ~~significant~~ critical shortage of medical professionals, with ~~specific deficits emerging in regional hospitals. Dubrovnik General Hospital has reported~~ a particularly severe deficit in family medicine. Experts, including Dr. Leonardo Bressan, have warned of ~~120 doctors and 60 nurses. While specialties such as clinical radiology and gynecology attract interest, others—including neurology, nephrology, psychiatry, and internal oncology—suffer from~~ a ~~lack of applicants. Nationally,~~ potential collapse in primary healthcare, noting that the ~~shortage~~ country could lose half of its family ~~medicine physicians has reached 288, a figure expected~~ doctors within three to ~~rise as nearly 900~~ five years due to an aging workforce. Currently, 1,133 family doctors are ~~set to retire within~~ aged 55 or older, and in Lika-Senj County, there are reportedly no family doctors under the ~~next five years. This crisis is particularly acute~~ age of 60. Regional disparities are stark. While Istria faces high operating costs that deter new doctors, isolated areas like Lika and Gorski Kotar suffer from professional isolation. Significant deficits are also reported in ~~smaller communities~~ Zagreb, Osječko-Baranja, and ~~island regions.~~ several other counties. In response to recruitment struggles, institutions like Opća bolnica Zadar have attempted large-scale hiring drives; however, Zadar reported that out of 68 requested nursing and technician positions, only nine candidates met the necessary requirements. To address these gaps, the Ministry of Health is ~~moving forward with plans~~ pursuing structural reforms. A draft amendment to ~~reorganize~~ the Public Health Service Network proposes allowing medical teams to work across multiple locations to improve accessibility. Additionally, the Ministry is reorganizing emergency medicine and ~~modify the medical~~ modifying specialization ~~system~~ systems to encourage practice in less populated areas. ~~Financial incentives have been introduced to aid recruitment, such as an additional 2,000 euros net monthly offered to pediatricians in locations like Novalja.~~ In island ~~communities, healthcare~~ regions, stability ~~increasingly depends~~ remains dependent on maritime emergency services and physicians from neighboring ~~countries. On the island of Iž, the relocation of Dr. Luka Pirnat, a specialist from Sarajevo, underscores this reliance. Similarly, Driton Zeneli, originally~~ countries, such as specialists from Sarajevo or North Macedonia, has been practicing family medicine on the island of Cres for over two years. Local officials emphasize that these doctors are vital for island populations, which consist largely of retirees who rely on medical professionals for essential care and security. Macedonia.

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