How to shorten the wait for an MRI, CT scan or ultrasound in Croatia

You have been given a referral for an MRI and the hospital tells you: „The first available appointment is in March.“ That situation is common in Croatia, but you are not without options. This guide explains four ways to get your examination sooner, from completely free to private.

1. Check the waiting lists at all hospitals, not just yours

Waiting lists differ from hospital to hospital, sometimes by several months. A referral is valid throughout Croatia, so you can also book at a hospital in another city. For a knee MRI, for example, the difference between the longest and the shortest list can be more than 100 days.

On the Waiting lists page we show the current wait at each hospital for the most common examinations, based on publicly available data. See where the wait is shortest and call that hospital.

2. Waiting more than 90 days? The examination may be free at a private clinic

If you have been waiting more than 90 days on a public list for an MRI, CT scan or certain ultrasound examinations, HZZO, the national health insurance fund, pays for the examination at a private polyclinic it has a contract with. All you need is a referral from your GP; the examination costs you nothing extra. Places are limited per examination and clinic, so it is worth enquiring straight away.

How it works step by step and which clinics have a contract is described on the page Free with a referral.

3. Ask about cancelled appointments

At every hospital and polyclinic patients cancel appointments, often a day or two beforehand. When booking, say that you can come at short notice and leave your mobile number. Some institutions keep such a „standby“ list. The same applies to private clinics: on Prvi termin you can switch on an e-mail alert for as soon as an earlier appointment for your examination becomes available in your city.

4. Pay privately and get an appointment within days

If you need the results urgently or do not want to wait, private clinics usually perform an MRI within a few days. You do not need a referral for a private examination. Prices vary by city and clinic: an MRI of one joint costs roughly 200 to 260 €, an abdominal ultrasound 50 to 80 €, a CT scan 150 to 250 €. Exact prices and ranges by city are on the Prices page.

A private clinic's report is just as valid as a hospital one: your doctor can use it for further treatment, and if surgery is needed, it can still be carried out in the public system.

What to bring to the examination

Your referral (for the public system), health insurance card, previous reports and images of the same region, and a list of the medicines you take. For an MRI, be sure to say if you have any metal implants, a pacemaker, or if you are pregnant. Detailed instructions for individual examinations are in the „About the examination“ section on each examination page; binding instructions are given by the clinic.

Quick summary

• A referral is valid throughout Croatia: compare the lists of all hospitals.
• More than 90 days' wait for an MRI, CT scan or ultrasound: you are entitled to a free examination at a contracted private clinic.
• Leave your number for cancelled appointments or switch on the earlier-appointment alert.
• Private without a referral: an appointment within days, prices publicly available.