This summer, for the first time, additional teams have been provided in health centres for tourists from the EU and domestic tourists, where everyone can receive healthcare services, prescriptions, and referrals covered by their health insurance, which is currently available at 36 locations.
Counties and community health centres have so far secured staff for 36 teams out of the total number of teams which have contracts with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) at 51 locations, and they are expected to operate until 30 September.
In Split-Dalmatia County, tourist clinics are currently operating in Supetar on the island of Brač, in Split, Trogir, and Makarska, while a clinic on Hvar island is expected to start operating this weekend, according to Marko Rađa, director of the County Health Centre,
"All tourist clinics are clearly marked for better visibility," said Rađa.
The clinic in Split, which has two teams, operates in a single shift from Monday through Thursday, and in double shifts from Friday through Sunday, he added. The clinic in Supetar operates from Wednesday through Sunday, and all locations aim to cover weekends, when family medicine clinics are closed.
For all domestic tourists, HZZO health cards are valid, while for tourists from the EU and other countries such as Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card is accepted.
"Tourists mainly come in for allergic reactions to insect bites, sun reactions, ear infections, high fevers, colds, and coughs. From what I see, tourists recognise the importance of these clinics, as they receive care very quickly, whereas they would likely wait a long time elsewhere," dr. Andro Kurtić from the Supetar clinic told Hina.
An additional temporary team, consisting of a doctor and a nurse, has been working since 1 July in Novalja on the island of Pag, near the popular youth gathering spot, Zrće beach.
"Tourist clinics previously did not have contracts with the HZZO, and services were charged. With this arrangement, we have gained a lot, primarily reducing crowds and pressure on contracted practices where tourists went to avoid paying for services," Zoran Vidas, director of the Novalja health centre, told Hina.
Vidas noted that in peak season, they can have over 100 patients in one shift, and now they expect even more. The additional team will work every day except Thursday and holidays.
Around ten teams in five tourist clinics, in Umag, Poreč, Rovinj, Pula, and Labin, are available until 15 September to tourists in Istria County, where the population doubles during the summer, with up to 400,000 people staying there daily.
Istrian health centres report that tourists often seek medical help, leading to significant crowds at the emergency department of the Pula hospital.
"In peak season, almost 600,000 tourists vacation in Istria, which represents a significant burden on the healthcare system, both for Istrian health centres and Pula General Hospital," said Dr. Nikola Žgrablić, director of Istrian Health Centres.
The HZZO has ensured free check-ups, but not salaries for doctors working with tourists, so those are funded by the tourist tax, Istria County health department head Gordana Antić said.
The problem was that tourist clinics existed before but charged for services, so everyone went where they didn't have to pay, to family medicine doctors, she said. This issue is now better resolved, representing a significant step towards easing the burden on family doctors and emergency services.
(Hina/FaH)
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