Croatia welcomes advanced US-backed Cancer Center

The UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Croatia, a project worth US$ 20 million, was officially opened within the Zabok General Hospital and Croatian Veterans Hospital.

This is one of the most significant investments by the United States in Croatia and one of the most advanced oncology centres in Europe, which will provide patients with options that were previously unavailable in many regions, said Dragan Primorac, the initiator of UPMC's arrival in Croatia, CE Report quotes HINA.

Primorac said that the project envisages multidisciplinary oncology treatments at one location, with everything necessary to be provided by UPMC, the Zabok General Hospital, and the Special Hospital Sveta Katarina.

Patients soon to have access to centre's services through referrals

Primorac added that, by using artificial intelligence, they are making strides in other diagnostic areas related to PET/CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and all aspects crucial for modern chemotherapy.

When asked who will be able to use the services of the newly opened centre, Primorac said that the idea is for the best knowledge, technologies and capabilities to be covered by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO) in accordance with the law.

Patients should soon have access to the centre's services through referrals.

Health Minister Irena Hrstić emphasised that services at the new centre can only be contracted according to Croatian laws and HZZO rules.

"Croatian patients can receive applied protocols directly from American professional and scientific institutions, and I am sure that this is an added value. Whatever Croatian healthcare can improve, it should improve, and contracting with the HZZO will be conducted exclusively according to the same rules as for all other healthcare institutions in Croatia," she said.

Elizabeth Wild, President of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, said that this is an international collaboration that makes cancer treatment available not only in Croatia but also in neighbouring countries.

The centre will employ 30 skilled and compassionate professionals, she said.

We are proud of the team that has worked diligently alongside UPMC experts from the United States and Europe to create comprehensive oncology care that does not exist in this region, Wild said.

Foreign and European Affairs Minister Gordan Grlić Radman highlighted that Croatia is open to foreign investors.

"According to our data, US investments in Croatia in the first three quarters of last year amounted to approximately €650 million, and accurate figures are probably higher since a significant portion of investments is made through third countries," Grlić Radman said.