Patients are paid by the NHS for treatment, but not for accommodation: He will spend the whole of his treatment in a hotel...
A patient from Zadar, who was referred by an oncologist for radiotherapy at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Croatia in Zabok, has opted to stay at a nearby hotel during her treatment rather than return home. This decision stems from the lack of information provided by HZZO regarding accommodation costs and the unavailability of public transportation back to Zadar. The patient, who is retired, now faces the financial burden of covering accommodation expenses entirely from her pension. HZZO covers travel costs for patients traveling more than 50 km from their residence but does not cover accommodation. As a result, many patients relying on private cancer centers in Zagreb and other cities depend on non-governmental organizations for accommodation. In Zagreb, three such organizations provide free lodging, while public hospitals often accommodate their patients internally. Private healthcare institutions do not offer this service, merely providing hotel addresses. This situation highlights a significant barrier for financially constrained patients despite the availability of advanced medical services. Data from UPMC Hillman Center Zabok indicates over 1,100 patients have been managed by
A woman from Zadar was sent for treatment at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Zabok and was told she had to pay for her accommodation herself. According to reports, the patient, who is receiving radiotherapy, had to rent a hotel room for the entire duration of her therapy. She was informed of this requirement upon arrival in Zabok and was left without clear guidance on how to arrange housing. As a result, she will have to spend her entire pension on accommodation during her stay. The patient, who is in retirement, was unable to return home due to the lack of public transportation from the hospital. Taxi services recommended by the hospital were unavailable at the time. The HZZO, the Croatian Health Insurance Fund, covers travel expenses for patients traveling more than 50 kilometers from their residence to receive treatment, but does not cover accommodation costs. This has led many patients undergoing treatment in larger medical centers to rely on non-governmental organizations for lodging. In Zagreb, three such free accommodations are available through local associations. The largest is the Križ Reception Center with 18 double rooms, while the Fr. Mladen Hrkać Association provides six houses and apartments accommodating up to 55 people. The “Sve za nju” Association offers two rooms for four patients. In Rijeka, the Sisters Žarka Brotherhood House provides two double and two single rooms. Public hospitals sometimes accommodate patients by finding a bed within their wards, whereas private healthcare institutions provide only hotel addresses. For patients with limited financial means, this makes treatment difficult despite the availability of health care. According to data from the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Zabok, over 1,100 patients have been managed through HZZO referrals since the start of the year. Patients receiving HZZO-issued referrals have access to PET/CT scans and stereotactic radiosurgery (SBRT). However, HZZO does not cover accommodation costs for patients coming from outside Zabok, especially from remote parts of Croatia. The center’s team assists patients in planning their therapy and helps organize accommodation when necessary. However, the hospital itself does not offer accommodation services. The HZZO states that the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Zabok is contracted for stereotactic radiosurgery and PET/CT diagnostics under specialist consultative health protection. It notes there are no agreements for bed capacity or day hospitals. They clarify that hotel or other accommodation costs during the use of health insurance outside the insured person's place of residence are not covered under mandatory health insurance. According to HZZO data, 873 patients were referred to UPMC in Zabok in 2026, including 124 from Dalmatia, 40 from Slavonia, and others from Rijeka and Istria. For all these patients, accommodation during multi-day therapy represented a significant additional cost. The association “Nismo same” says it helps patients with transport to therapy, but only if the hospital is public. They argue that private institutions should develop such services themselves. “If private hospitals are part of the public health system, and it is obvious they are, the question arises why such a system puts people in a dead-end situation,” says president Ivana Kalogjera. “It is clear that people are ready to sacrifice everything for their health, and obviously those who profit heavily from this calculate accordingly,” she adds. Kalogjera points out that in the Netherlands, besides taxis, the government also pays for hotel stays for patients.
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A woman from Zadar was sent for radiation therapy at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Zabok but had to rent a hotel room herself during her entire treatment. She was not informed beforehand that she would need to arrange her own accommodation, which led to significant additional costs. The Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO) covers transportation costs for patients traveling more than 50 km from their residence but does not cover accommodation expenses. As a result, many patients rely on non-governmental organizations for housing during their treatment. In Zagreb, there are three free accommodations available for patients, while private healthcare facilities provide hotel addresses instead. This system creates financial barriers for patients with limited financial resources, making access to specialized cancer care difficult.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the limitations within Croatia’s healthcare system regarding patient accommodation during treatment. It does not take a clear ideological stance but highlights systemic issues and the role of both state and non-state actors. While the issue is politically-ch
Why factuality (95): The article accurately summarizes the primary source document, including the patient’s lack of information about needing accommodation, her retirement status, and the lack of public transport options. It also correctly reports the role of HZZO and the availability of non-profit accommodations. The o
Why objectivity (90): The article presents the situation neutrally, using descriptive language rather than overtly emotional or biased phrasing. It includes quotes from the NGO and HZZO without apparent bias, though it does highlight the financial burden on the patient, which could be seen as slightly emphasizing the iss
Novi listIndependentProgressiveFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 955 hr. ago
A patient from Zadar, who was referred by an oncologist for radiotherapy at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Croatia in Zabok, has opted to stay at a nearby hotel during her treatment rather than return home. This decision stems from the lack of information provided by HZZO regarding accommodation costs and the unavailability of public transportation back to Zadar. The patient, who is retired, now faces the financial burden of covering accommodation expenses entirely from her pension. HZZO covers travel costs for patients traveling more than 50 km from their residence but does not cover accommodation. As a result, many patients relying on private cancer centers in Zagreb and other cities depend on non-governmental organizations for accommodation. In Zagreb, three such organizations provide free lodging, while public hospitals often accommodate their patients internally. Private healthcare institutions do not offer this service, merely providing hotel addresses. This situation highlights a significant barrier for financially constrained patients despite the availability of advanced medical services. Data from UPMC Hillman Center Zabok indicates over 1,100 patients have been managed by
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a systemic failure within the HZZO system, highlighting the financial strain on patients and the lack of support for accommodation. It emphasizes the disparity between publicly funded travel assistance and the absence of similar support for housing, suggesting a left-
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (95): The article maintains a highly objective tone throughout, presenting the facts without editorializing or emotional language. It includes direct quotes from the NGO and HZZO, maintaining neutrality while still highlighting the systemic issues faced by patients.
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