Patient Transport Service

Patient Transport Service is transportation to or from a healthcare institution or the office of a contracted healthcare worker to provide healthcare services by an ambulance containing medical and technical equipment for the safe transport of patients.

Who has the right to Patient Transport Service?

In the Republic of Croatia, every person with compulsory health insurance has the right to Patient Transport Service under the following conditions:

      • if they are immobile,
      • if they have difficulty moving and
      • if it is recommended not to move independently due to their illness.

Who performs the activity of Patient Transport Service?

Following the Emergency Medicine and Patient Transport Service Network (OG 134/23) the activity of Patient Transport Service is under the authority of the institutes of emergency medicine of the regional self-government unit.

Contact information for the Patient Transport Service by county emergency medicine institutes

Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Brod-Posavina County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Teaching Institute of Emergency Medicine of the City of Zagreb
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Teaching Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Istria County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Karlovac County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Koprivnica-Križevci County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Krapina-Zagorje County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Lika-Senj County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Međimurje County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Osijek-Baranja County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Požega-Slavonia County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Sisak-Moslavina County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Split-Dalmatia County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Å ibenik-Knin County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Teaching Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Varaždin County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Virovitica-Podravina County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Vukovar-Srijem County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Zadar County
Icon of the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, showing the HMS logo
Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Zagreb County

Who determines the need for Patient Transport Service?

The need for Patient Transport Service is determined by:

      • selected primary health care doctor of the insured person,
      • a doctor at the contracted healthcare facility where the insured person is receiving medical treatment,
      • a doctor in the Emergency Medical Service with whom the insured person is undergoing medical treatment,
      • authorized doctor of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).

How to attain the right to Patient Transport Service?

The insured person attains the right to Patient Transport Service based on a correctly completed Patient Transport Service order issued and certified by:

      • a selected doctor in the case the insured person is referred to use health care from the place of residence or temporary residence to a contracted health institution or the office of a contracted health worker,
      • a doctor in the Emergency Medical Service with whom the insured person is undergoing treatment,
      • a doctor in the contracted health institution or a contracted private practice in which the insured person is receiving medical treatment when the insured person is being transported from those institutions to their permanent or temporary residence, as well as when they are being transferred from one contracted health institution to another,
      • an authorized doctor of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, or the medical commission of the CHIF Directorate in the case of transport abroad or return from abroad.

What does Patient Transport Service include?

Patient Transport Service refers to the transportation of an insured person by an ambulance containing medical and technical equipment for the safe transport of patients:

      • from the place of residence or temporary residence to a contracted health institution or private practice health practitioner’s office or to a contracted supplier of orthopaedic and other aids,
      • from a contracted health institution or private practice health practitioner’s office or from a contracted supplier of orthopaedic and other aids to the place of residence or temporary residence,
      • from one contracted health institution or private practice health practitioner’s office to another contracted health institution or private practice health practitioner’s office or to a contracted supplier of orthopaedic and other aids,
      • from the place of residence or temporary residence to a health institution outside the territory of the Republic of Croatia and back.