Medicines, orthopaedic and other prostheses, dental prostheses
Exercising the right to medicines, orthopaedic and other prostheses, as well as dental prostheses under the Regulation 883/04
Based on EHIC or substitute Certificate, insured persons another Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area countries (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), who during their temporary stay in Croatia suddenly gets ill, hurt or has an accident, will be entitled to necessary healthcare, according to the assessment of the contracted physician that such persons turns to for help.
Such necessary healthcare includes the right to medicines, orthopaedic and other prostheses, and dental prostheses, depending on the competent physician’s decision and which are covered by compulsory health insurance in Croatia.
Necessary healthcare extends to healthcare services rendered for the treatment of chronic diseases (such as chronic drug therapy), i.e. for the treatment of existing conditions.
Exercising the right to medicines, orthopaedic and other prostheses, as well as dental prostheses under the Directive 2011/24/EU
Medicines
Under the provisions of the Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (hereinafter: Directive 2011/24/EU), and Commission Implementing Directive 2012/52/EU of 20 December 2012 laying down measures to facilitate the recognition of medical prescriptions issued in another Member State of the European Union, insured persons of another Member State of the EU or EEA countries are entitled to pick up their medicine in Croatia and cover the costs of it on the basis of a prescription received in their home country. Upon returning to their home country, such persons are entitled to request a refund for the medicine purchased from your insurance provider.
To facilitate the dispensation of the medicine in Croatia based on the prescription from the person’s home country, in accordance with Article 16 of the Ordinance on Benchmarks for the Classification of Medicinal Products and on the Prescription and Dispensing of Prescription Medicinal Products (Official Gazette No. 86/13, 90/13, 102/14, 107/15 , 72/16), it should contain:
1. Information about the patient:
● first and last name,
● date of birth.
2. Information about the prescription:
● date of prescribing the prescription
3. Information on the authorized person in the EU Member State, who prescribed the prescription:
● first and last name,
● professional qualifications,
● address in the workplace, including the EU Member State,
● contact information (e-mail address, phone number or fax),
● signature (written or electronic).
4. Information about the medicine prescribed:
● name of the medicinal product (international nonproprietary name – the INN),
● Newly given name if the medicine prescribed is a biological one, or in cases when the authorized person in the EU Member State has expressly indicated that a substitute medicine cannot be issued,
● pharmaceutical form,
● strength, quantity and dosage.
According to Article 15 of the above-mentioned Ordinance, only medicines approved to be marketed in accordance with the Medicinal Products Act (Official Gazette No. 76/13, 90/14) can be dispensed in Croatia, based on the prescription provided by an authorized person in another Member States, except the medicines prescribed on a special prescription.
For a more detailed procedure of issuing prescription medicine in your home country, as described above, please contact the competent institution for health insurance in your home country.
Orthopaedic and other prostheses, and dental prostheses/medical products
Under the Directive 2011/24/EU, the acceptance of prescriptions should apply to medical devices marketed legally in the Member State in which the product will be issued on prescription.
Please contact the competent institution for health insurance for the procedure of issuing the prescription/certificate in your home country, for a medical product that you want to get in Croatia (orthopaedic and other prostheses, as well as dental prostheses).
Last update date: 01.02.2024.
