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Post by crojoe on Dec 9, 2010 15:30:49 GMT 1
In Croatia you need to visit your doctor and add lots of salt. Just laying down and trusting them 100% could be a death defying act of courage or pure stupidity. Sadly, Croatian doctors don't know it all, and in actrual fact are behind the times or at least unable to try newer or more modern technics. In some areas they are good, while in other areas such as giving the patient the benefit of the doubt or what they want dosen't come easy. Younger doctors have to keep with tradition in hospitals, traditions passed down from older doctors who more often then not live by past methods and not too open to change. But, all that said, I'd rather go see a doctor here then say in other parts of Eastern Europe or Asia.
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Post by siriwan on Dec 9, 2010 18:38:07 GMT 1
I don't trust many doctors at all. Be it here or elsewhere, they sure don't know it all, and they make lots of mistakes.
My grandmother died... of a bedscar, after not being taken care of properly and after having a procedure done that never appeared on the bill nor in her file and was performed by a doctor who wasn't hers. We didn't want to make a fuss before because my "dear" aunt worked at that hospital and she's quite a bitch. Had we known...
I cannot have glucose in a drip if I need one, and I don't know how to make it clear if anything ever happened to me... I'd rather give birth at home than at Karlovac hospital, and the least I see doctors, the happier and healthier I am.
I treat my diabetes myself, and I would do the same if I still lived in Belgium, so it doesn't have anything to do with the state of Cro health care - I do not believe in sugar-lowering drugs nor in insulin, and that's my choice... I don't entrust anybody with my own health because my family has seen too much damage from trusting the good doctor...
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Post by 3lions on Dec 9, 2010 18:40:15 GMT 1
I'd rather go see a doctor here then say in other parts of Eastern Europe or Asia. where specifically>?
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Post by pocketvenus on Dec 9, 2010 19:09:21 GMT 1
I had awful experiences of the Croatian health system. I had encephalopathy, a neurological disease, which it took two weeks to diagnose. Their first diagnosis was veghetarianism! I spent three months in a horrible hospital with inedible food, and was told I'd never walk again. However I left using just a walking stick, and weighing 45 kilos and severely malnourished. Never again shall I complain about the NHS.
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Post by Ribaric on Dec 11, 2010 11:06:27 GMT 1
Sadly for me, I have been in the middle of the Croatian health service all year. Three operations so far and still with an on-going disc problem means I have been in and out of hospitals and have been shunting back and forth on a weekly basis. Without going into details, I'll make a few general comments of my experiences.
In summary, I have received quicker and more personalised service than I could have hoped for in the UK. I have got to see and talk to surgeons and spets within a few days of deciding that something serious was wrong. This reduces the stress of waiting for appointments (which are often cancelled in the UK) and this has been of great assistance to me. All doctors speak good English and although my Croatian is good enough for me not to need this, for many people, this would be a great comfort to know you are being understood.
The facilities (washing, decoration, toilets etc) in Varazdin are pretty bad but, in my experience, the nurses and doctors have been bloody good. They do the important stuff very well and respond well when you tell them how much their efforts are appreciated. I felt safe and well cared for at all times - even if the paint was peeling from the walls.
Private medicine is excellent and very cheap in comparison to UK prices. Example: I wanted an MRI scan and I wanted it now... so I paid a private clinic 1500HRK and got it done in a day or two. This enabled me to wait 8 days to see my neurosurgeon and have up-to-date scans of my back for him to make a prognosis. So I mix the private with the national service as it suits me. I know this is beyond the financial scope for many people as it would be beyond my budget to do it in the UK.
The hospital is allegedly populated with about 50-50 mix of doctors who will accept money to push you up the list and those who will not. It is the latter "good guys" that I have found to be dedicated, professional and hard working to the extent that I have not been tempted to 'bung' my way to better treatment.
To summarise, my experience has been a positive one as compared to my previous experiences in and around London in terms of the national health services. Frankly, I feel more secure, medically speaking, here than I would in London. The biggest problem is the paperwork which you will need help with.
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Post by totalcroatia on Dec 11, 2010 19:04:55 GMT 1
Thanks to all for your responses and good luck with the recuperation Rib. Sounds like you have been through a lot.
One more question is I may, concerning the UK reciprocal health agreement. I have never had to use it, but can someone clarify exactly what it entails?
On paper, it would seem that a passport (or E111?) should be enough, but I have read posts where the process was a lot more bureaucratic and free treatment not a given. Does the reciprocity apply to all health care, or is it limited, ie if you wanted to trust in the Croatian health care system (and I can see some of you wouldn't!), does that mean you are automatically covered by passport/E111 for all health issues? Or what are the rules/boundaries?
cheers Paul
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Post by prkbrk on Dec 11, 2010 20:31:15 GMT 1
Thanks to all for your responses and good luck with the recuperation Rib. Sounds like you have been through a lot. One more question is I may, concerning the UK reciprocal health agreement. I have never had to use it, but can someone clarify exactly what it entails? On paper, it would seem that a passport (or E111?) should be enough, but I have read posts where the process was a lot more bureaucratic and free treatment not a given. Does the reciprocity apply to all health care, or is it limited, ie if you wanted to trust in the Croatian health care system (and I can see some of you wouldn't!), does that mean you are automatically covered by passport/E111 for all health issues? Or what are the rules/boundaries? cheers Paul depends where you live and who you talk to ...I have had it free and have then had to pay and then again have had it offered free........
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Post by Ribaric on Dec 12, 2010 3:01:07 GMT 1
My experience is that some adminstrators are vaguely aware of the bilateral agreement but have no idea of how to do the paperwork. This normally results in a refusal in order to get you to either have the CRO health insurance or pay. As I understand it, the bilateral agreement allows for tourists and travellers to get emergency treatment for free if they are unlucky enough to need it during their stay in HR. It is not for general health care, follow-ups or any other non-emergency procedure and certainly not for foreign residents, either temporary or permanent. I am confused by this as it seems to duplicate the precise purpose of the EHIC card. My understanding for foreign resident is that you must have either.... - Croatian health insurance card/s.
- private health insurance. Or
- Enough money to pay.
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Post by Carol on Dec 12, 2010 15:09:30 GMT 1
isn't the EHIC card for treatment in the EU only?
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Post by crojoe on Dec 12, 2010 20:35:06 GMT 1
Total.... I touched on this subject more times then I can count on this site. If you are from the UK, take your passport to Croatian Heath Insurance and they will issue you a paper, signed and stamped that gives you free medical. While I have never used it for a major operation, my wife had a baby here using it, my daughter get's soya milk powder supliment each month and little trips to doctor get covered. We don't pay Croatian health insurance. This one page document and passport take care of any questions. My understanding is that it is only available to UK nationals.
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Post by happy on Dec 12, 2010 21:00:13 GMT 1
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Post by mrhappy on Dec 13, 2010 14:00:55 GMT 1
isn't the EHIC card for treatment in the EU only? EEA actually, which is EU plus Norway, Iceland, etc., NOT Croatia.
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Post by prkbrk on Dec 13, 2010 14:22:43 GMT 1
The problem here is that not all plod stations apply this when you renew your residence visa. Also the catch for UK residents is that if they are living in Croatia they are not actually any longer UK residents (and if you dont declare non-resident status then you have other issues!). These agreements were only meant to cover short periods of stay and not for folk who had moved here on a long term basis ( if you are on a defined period of stay then I guess you could argue that a 1 year temp visa would be such, but when/if you apply for permanent residence then it will not apply). The first year I was here, not a problem- no need for health insurance. The second year, saw the same folk again at the same station and they advised me I needed Croat Health Insurance. When i renewed again this year they asked me why i had Croat health Insurance as i did not need it! Anway will see what happens next year. I am happy to pay for my healthcare (allows me to register with a doctor, dentist and receive any medicines at a much lower rate than over the counter!) as the cost is about the same as a Sky subscription to TV! I have been to the local health insurance office here and they did say i could get under the reciprocal agreement if i had a statement from HM folk( not likely to happen as I avoid them like the plague and it is linked with your NI contributions in the UK- something as an expat I have not had the pleasure of paying for nigh on 25 of the last 30 years!)
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Post by totalcroatia on Dec 14, 2010 16:48:57 GMT 1
Thanks for your replies. Can see that the random Cro factor comes into play from place to place, but would an accurate summary of the above be:
1. UK residents but not nationals qualify if they have the Customs doc mentioned (Happy).
2. A passport SHOULD be enough for treatment (local interpretations apply).
3. Taking your passport to the health insurance people gets you a piece of paper for a year (Crojoe) BUT if a Brit is no longer a resident of the UK, and living in Croatia, he doesn't qualify (pbrbrk) for long-term help.
Assuming the above to be the case, the authorities I guess could tell from the passport whether or not the foreigner had status in Cro from the residence permit in the passport. That being the case, the easily obtainable second British passport could then be used to get health care for a Brit residing here.
No agenda here, just trying to find where the boundaries are so I can give the best info for the piece I want to write for the site.
Cheers Paul
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Post by prkbrk on Dec 14, 2010 17:03:14 GMT 1
Thanks for your replies. Can see that the random Cro factor comes into play from place to place, but would an accurate summary of the above be: 1. UK residents but not nationals qualify if they have the Customs doc mentioned (Happy). 2. A passport SHOULD be enough for treatment (local interpretations apply). 3. Taking your passport to the health insurance people gets you a piece of paper for a year (Crojoe) BUT if a Brit is no longer a resident of the UK, and living in Croatia, he doesn't qualify (pbrbrk) for long-term help. Assuming the above to be the case, the authorities I guess could tell from the passport whether or not the foreigner had status in Cro from the residence permit in the passport. That being the case, the easily obtainable second British passport could then be used to get health care for a Brit residing here. No agenda here, just trying to find where the boundaries are so I can give the best info for the piece I want to write for the site. Cheers Paul I think you still have to break it down into - a) tourists and b) residents. Even if you still get treatment in either case you will pay for medications, unless you have gone the next step to have Croat Insurance ( only for residents). Tourists will get emerg treatment, but residents may also get this, but will not get 'ongoing' treatment (e.g. pre-existing condition). I think it is not clear enough IMO to post an absolute on what UK folk will or will not get
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