As the healthcare landscape in Croatia evolves, successful implementation will depend heavily on coordinated effort between the state, private institutions, physician unions, and the IT sector.
Beginning 1 January 2026, all private healthcare institutions in Croatia will be required to connect to the Central Health Information System (CEZIH). This marks a significant shift in Croatia’s healthcare digitalisation strategy which is aimed primarily at tightening oversight of dual practice among physicians.
Why the Change? Strengthening Oversight and System Transparency
The Croatian Ministry of Health is introducing this obligation as part of a broader reform package intended to improve transparency in healthcare delivery. By ensuring all providers, public and private, operate within the same information ecosystem, authorities aim to monitor service provision more consistently.
However, the transition raises a number of practical and legal questions that the sector is actively debating. Telemedicine: Online consultations are becoming the standard, enabling faster access to doctors without the need to visit a doctor’s office. Whilst, smartphones, apps, and wearable devices are making it easier to schedule appointments and track results.
Market Concerns: Technical, Administrative and Data Privacy Challenges
Private healthcare providers have expressed reservations about the scope and timing of the change. Until now, CEZIH integration was required only for public institutions, and the shift places new burdens on smaller private clinics that lack comparable technical infrastructure.
Key concerns include: :
- Full IT adaptation to a system never previously used by private operators
- Administrative workload increases, especially for smaller practices
- Data protection considerations, as sensitive patient information will now flow into a central state-managed platform
The IT community has similarly highlighted the risk of integration failures, system overload, and unclear data governance responsibilities.
HUBOL’s Position: Administrative Burden Without Compensation
The Croatian Union of Hospital Doctors (HUBOL) has openly criticised the measure. According to their position (available at https://www.hubol.hr/), physicians are already exposed to sanctions related to excessive waiting lists which they argue arise from systemic shortcomings rather than individual error.
Now, private providers will also be obliged to submit daily datasets into CEZIH, which HUBOL sees as an unpaid administrative burden added on top of already demanding workloads.
Patient Identification Issues Still Unresolved
One operational barrier concerns patient identification via the MBO (matični broj osiguranika) number. Private institutions have not previously been authorised to request or process MBO identifiers, leaving a legal grey zone that must be addressed before integration can be fully implemented.
Without formal clarification, private providers risk being unable to comply with CEZIH requiremenents, creating potential liability concerns for both institutions and medical staff.
What Comes Next? Clarification and Support Needed
With less than a year until the mandate takes effect, private healthcare providers are urging the government to:
- Publish clear technical guidelines
- Resolve outstanding legal inconsistencies regarding patient identification
- Provide support mechanisms for IT adaptation
- Consider financial compensation for the increased administrative workload
As the healthcare landscape in Croatia evolves, successful implementation will depend heavily on coordinated effort between the state, private institutions, physician unions, and the IT sector.
If you’d like to understand how these changes could affect your organisation or clients, speak with our local experts in Croatia for more information:
Antonia Filipovic
Health & Benefits Manager
GrECo Croatia
T +306 974 324 430
