A plush teddy bear sitting with a bandage wrapped around its head, a cross-shaped band-aid on its chest, next to a medical face mask and scissors.
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Understanding Healthcare in Zagreb: Public vs. Private

ByDiana

As a Zagreb local who’s used both systems, for myself and my kids, this guide breaks down exactly what you need to know before you need it.

The public system in Croatia works really well. For serious treatment, surgery, specialist care, or emergencies, the public system is where you want to be. It’s well-equipped, properly staffed, and you will be treated with the same care as anyone else.

Private clinics, on the other hand, are a fantastic shortcut for diagnostics. Need a blood test, an ultrasound, or quick lab results? Private polyclinics are faster, often English-friendly, and you’ll usually have results the same day.

My simple recommendation:

Serious treatment, surgery, emergency? → Public hospital
Blood tests, diagnostics, quick screenings? → Private clinic
Everything in between → Use your judgment

General Public Hospitals in Zagreb

KBC Zagreb (Rebro) is the main hospital in Zagreb and the largest in Croatia. If you need serious treatment, this is your primary destination. It covers everything except childbirth.

A young boy lying in bed with a striped scarf, holding a medicine spray and touching his forehead due to a fever.

You’ll find it on the eastern side of the city, close to Maksimir Park.

The other hospitals, Vinogradska, Sveti Duh, Dubrava, and Merkur are smaller complexes but still well-equipped for general care.

Which one makes sense for you largely depends on where you are in the city. That said, not every hospital offers the same services, so if you have something specific in mind, contact the hospital directly beforehand to confirm they can help you.

Hospital

Address

Phone

E-mail

KBC Zagreb (Rebro)

Kišpatićeva 12

+385 1 2388 888

kbc-zagreb@kbc-zagreb.hr

KBC Sestre Milosrdnice – Vinogradska

Vinogradska cesta 29

+385 1 3787 111

kbcsm@kbcsm.hr

KB Sveti Duh

Sveti Duh 64

+385 1 3712 111

narudzbe@kbsd.hr

KB Dubrava

Avenija Gojka Šuška 6

+385 1 290 2444

info@kb-dubrava.hr

KB Merkur

Zajčeva 19

+385 1 2431 311

info@kb-merkur.hr

A few of these hospitals also offer maternity and childbirth services. I’ll cover those in a dedicated section below.

Specialized Public Hospitals You Need to Know

Klaićeva: Children’s Hospital Zagreb

Address: Ul. Vjekoslava Klaića 116,

Phone: +385 1 4600 111

E-mail: ohbp@kdb.hr

Klaićeva is the main public children’s hospital in Zagreb and the place you’ll likely find yourself visiting for all kinds of pediatric needs, not just emergencies.

A friendly female pediatrician smiling warmly while checking a baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope in a bright clinic room.

We’ve been there for hip ultrasounds with babies, speech diagnostics, and everything in between. Every single time, the doctors and staff were kind, patient, and very good with children.

For those middle-of-the-night moments when you’re not sure whether something is serious enough to go to the hospital, they have an ER line you can call. I’ve called a few times myself when I wasn’t sure what to do with a sick child, and every time I got calm and helpful guidance.

Draškovićeva: Trauma Hospital

Address: Draškovićeva ul. 19

Phone: +385 1 4697 000

Located right in the city center, Draškovićeva is Zagreb’s go-to for orthopedic trauma; fractures, serious injuries, accidents.

A plush teddy bear sitting with a bandage wrapped around its head, a cross-shaped band-aid on its chest, next to a medical face mask and scissors.

From everyone I know who’s been through it, the care is solid and the staff helpful.

One practical tip: waiting times at any public hospital can vary significantly depending on the season and circumstances.

A good example- when the first snow and ice hit Zagreb, trauma emergencies spike. If you’re visiting in winter and something happens, expect it to be busier than usual.

Pregnancy, Maternity, and Newborn Emergency Care

Public Maternity Hospitals in Zagreb

The main public hospitals offering labor, delivery, and maternity care in Zagreb are:

  • Petrova (KBC Zagreb maternity wing)
  • KB Merkur
  • KB Sveti Duh
  • KBC Sestre Milosrdnice – Vinogradska

I gave birth in both Petrova and Merkur, and the care and staff at both were good. If I had to pick a favorite- Petrova it is.

The hospital went through major renovation after parts of it were damaged in Zagreb’s 2020 earthquake, and the result is impressive.

It now runs to very high standards and comfort. Beyond the physical upgrades, Petrova has a long-standing reputation for excellent maternal delivery and neonatal care and diagnostics, and that reputation is well earned.

For high-risk pregnancies especially, this is where you want to be.

Podobnik- Private Maternity Hospital

If you’re a foreigner in Zagreb and want a more boutique, private experience for your pregnancy or birth, Podobnik is the name you’ll hear most often.

It’s Zagreb’s premier private maternity facility, personalized care, smaller scale, and a more comfortable setup than a large public hospital.

Like any service, opinions vary, but from what I heard, the service is excellent.

Specialized Private Clinics for Families and Kids

Poliklinika Helena

Address: Ulica kneza Branimira 71

Website: Poliklinika Helena

Here’s a scenario parents are familiar with: your child is feverish, clearly needs a blood and/or urine test, but your pediatrician isn’t available until the next shift, which means waiting another full day for results.

When your child is in pain or running a high fever, that extra day feels unbearable.

A modern, bright children's clinic waiting area with vibrant red couches, white tables, and a dedicated kids' play corner in the background.

This is exactly where Poliklinika Helena comes in. I’ve done this myself; headed to Helena for a quick blood and urine test before my pediatrician’s shift, so we already had results in hand when the appointment came.

It works great. Beyond diagnostics, friends have also used them for full pediatric exams and have been consistently happy with the experience.

A few practical things worth knowing:

  • Walk-ins welcome for blood tests, urine tests, and urgent needs- no appointment necessary
  • Appointments available for specific exams via phone, email, or WhatsApp
  • WhatsApp communication makes everything easier if you’re not comfortable with phone calls in Croatian
  • The entire clinic is set up with children in mind– toys, a calm environment, and staff who are warm and skilled with kids

Fast Walk-In Labs for Blood and Quick Diagnostics

There are many more private clinics in Zagreb worth exploring, but I’m sharing the ones I’ve personally used and been happy with. Consider this a starting point, not an exhaustive list.

Poliklinika Breyer

Centre of Zagreb: Ilica 191

New Zagreb: Ede Murtića 9

Eastern part- Dubrava: Grižanska 1

Breyer is one of Zagreb’s most well-known private laboratories, popular for quick walk-in blood draws, microbiological analysis, and fast lab diagnostics.

Results are typically emailed the same day, which makes a real difference when you’re waiting on answers for a sick child.

If you want to check more info, here is the official website.

Poliklinika Aviva

Address: Trpinjska ul. 7

Website: Poliklinika Aviva

Aviva is a comprehensive multi-specialty private clinic with a full medical-biochemical laboratory, great for blood tests, diagnostic packages, and systematic health checkups for the whole family under one roof.

I used them most recently when my child tested positive for streptococcus and I wanted to quickly check whether my husband and I had picked it up too. I called, they told me to come straight in, and the whole process was smooth, professional, and fast. Results arrived by email.

One thing that might surprise you on your first visit. It can get busy. The reason is that Aviva holds contracts with the public health system for certain diagnostics, meaning some patients come through on public coverage. Don’t let the waiting room catch you off guard. In my experience the queue moves well and the staff remain helpful and kind throughout.

Aviva also has parking around the building, which is a great bonus in Zagreb.

What to Do in a Medical Emergency

Emergency Numbers

Number

Emergency

112

General emergency (police, fire, medical)

194

Ambulance / Hitna Pomoć (medical only)

How the Public ER System Works

Every major public hospital in Zagreb has a Hitna (emergency admission) entrance. It operates separately from regular outpatient services and is open around the clock.

When you arrive, go directly to the Hitna desk and explain what’s happening. If you don’t speak Croatian, ask for someone who speaks English, in most cases someone on staff will be available, or they’ll find someone who is.

Quick Emergency Checklist

  • Call 112 or 194– don’t hesitate, even if you’re unsure
  • Bring any existing medical documentation that could be relevant- test results, diagnosis letters, discharge papers
  • Bring a list of any medications you or your child currently takes
  • Head to the info desk if you’re unsure which entrance or department to go to- there is always one near the main entrance

I hope you have a beautiful stay in Zagreb with absolutely no need to ever see the inside of a medical clinic. To plan the rest of your local adventures, take a look at some of my favorite family guides below.

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