AGP Executive Report

Heat-Related Deaths: A study estimates 461 excess heat deaths per million people in Croatia this summer, among Europe’s highest rates; researchers attribute about 65% of the continent’s heat deaths to climate change. Rabac Pool Accident: A German girl remains stable in intensive care after her hair became trapped in a hotel pool vent. Rescuers performed CPR before she was airlifted to Rijeka Hospital. Medical Loss: Croatian ultrasound pioneer Asim Kurjak has died aged 84. He led Zagreb’s Centre for Ultrasound Diagnostics and a WHO collaborating centre supporting ultrasound use in developing countries. Zagreb Mobility: The city has begun a transport plan aimed at safer, cleaner journeys and better access to essential services, including healthcare.

Heat and Health: A study estimates Croatia had 461 heat-related excess deaths per million people during Europe’s record-hot summer, among the continent’s highest rates. Researchers attribute about two-thirds of Europe’s estimated 50,000 heat deaths to climate change. Pool Safety: A German girl remains stable in intensive care after her hair became trapped in a pool vent at a resort in Rabac on October 20; rescuers performed CPR before she was flown to hospital in Rijeka. Medical Access: Croatia is considering ways to improve healthcare on its islands, where residents can face challenges reaching services. Tribute: Croatian ultrasound pioneer Asim Kurjak has died aged 84. He led a Zagreb ultrasound diagnostics centre and a World Health Organization collaborating centre.

Rabac Pool Accident: A German girl remains stable in intensive care after her hair became trapped in a hotel pool filter in Rabac. A family member and another guest rescued her and performed CPR before she was airlifted to hospital in Rijeka. Heat Risks: A European study estimates Croatia had 461 heat-related excess deaths per million people during the record-breaking summer of 2026, among the continent’s highest rates. Zagreb Mobility: The city has begun a 14-month plan to improve public transport, road safety and access to essential services, including healthcare, while tackling congestion, noise and pollution. Medical Legacy: Croatian ultrasound pioneer Asim Kurjak has died aged 84. He led ultrasound services at a Zagreb hospital and later headed a World Health Organization collaborating centre. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering new ways to improve healthcare on its islands.

Pool Accident: A German girl remains in intensive care, but is stable, after her hair became trapped in a pool filter at a Rabac resort. She was airlifted to Rijeka Hospital, where she is receiving treatment. Medical Legacy: Croatian ultrasound pioneer Asim Kurjak has died aged 84. He led Zagreb’s ultrasound diagnostics centre and a World Health Organization collaborating centre. Heat Risk: Researchers estimate more than 50,000 heat-related deaths in European cities this summer; Croatia recorded an estimated 461 excess deaths per million people, among the continent’s highest rates. City Health: Zagreb has begun a 14-month plan to make everyday journeys safer and easier, with priorities including public transport, walking and cycling, and reducing traffic pollution. Island Care: Croatia is considering ways to improve healthcare access on its islands.

Medical Community: Croatian ultrasound pioneer and academic Asim Kurjak has died aged 84. He led Zagreb’s ultrasound diagnostics centre and a World Health Organization collaborating centre. Zagreb Mobility: The city has started a 14-month plan to make everyday journeys safer and easier, including access to healthcare facilities. Pool Safety: A German girl remains stable in intensive care after her hair became trapped in a pool filter at a Rabac resort; rescuers performed CPR before she was flown to Rijeka Hospital. Environmental Health: Croatia’s parliament rejected a no-confidence motion over illegally dumped waste near Gospić, where reports found “forever chemicals” and heavy metals downstream.

Dental Tourism: A new international booking platform lists dental packages at partner clinics in Croatia, bundling treatment with consultations, accommodation and transfers; it targets patients seeking clearer costs abroad. Croatian Research: Work on Neanderthal DNA from Vindija Cave is tracing genetic links to people today, including inherited traits that may bring health benefits as well as disease risks. Waste and Health: Croatia’s parliament rejected a no-confidence motion over illegal dumping near Gospić. About 37,000 tonnes of waste were dumped there, and tests found “forever chemicals” and heavy metals downstream, fuelling residents’ health concerns.

Croatia’s Neanderthal Legacy: Research on people from Vindija Cave suggests their inherited DNA still shapes human health, with links to both benefits and disease risks. Croatian scientist Mateja Hajdinjak is leading further work. Waste and Public Health: Parliament rejected a no-confidence motion over 37,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste near Gospić. Reports found “forever chemicals” and heavy metals downstream, fuelling residents’ health concerns. Medicine Access: Biosimilars reached an average 40.7% market share across 27 European countries, but uptake varies widely. Policies including prescriber switching and prescribing quotas were linked to stronger use. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering new ways to improve healthcare on its islands, where distance can make access to services more difficult.

Waste and Public Health: Croatia’s government survived a no-confidence vote over 37,000 tons of illegally dumped waste near Gospić. An expert report found “forever chemicals” and heavy metals downstream, prompting residents to fear health risks and calls for an urgent cleanup. Dental Care: New Croatian Health Insurance Fund rules phase out amalgam fillings and provide for white fillings, but patients may need to ask specifically for the covered option. Reports say some dentists still charge for composite fillings, while the free alternative may look different. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering ways to improve healthcare on its islands, where access to services remains a concern.

Dental Care: Croatia’s health insurer is moving away from amalgam fillings, with white fillings meant to be covered even for back teeth. Patients may still be charged, so ask which covered material is being offered. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering new ways to improve healthcare access on its islands. Public Safety: A chemical incident at a Croatian hotel left 21 people seeking medical help. Wellness: Bjelovar has opened a new geothermal water park, adding a local thermal-water destination.

Dental Coverage: Croatia’s HZZO has moved to cover white fillings in place of amalgam, including for back teeth. Patients may need to request the covered option, as reports say some are still being charged for alternatives. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering new ways to improve healthcare on its islands, where access to services can be challenging. Obesity Treatment: A European procedure has backed extending QSIVA, a weight-management medicine, to patients aged 12 and older; Croatia is among 17 countries whose agencies must now issue national decisions. Wellness: Bjelovar’s new geothermal water park, Wellovar, has opened to the public.

Dental Coverage: Croatia’s health insurer has moved away from routine amalgam fillings, but patients may still be charged for white composites. HZZO-covered alternatives are available, so ask your dentist which materials are included before agreeing to treatment. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering incentives for doctors to train in island and rural areas, alongside virtual clinics and stronger emergency services, to ease long journeys for care. Adolescent Obesity: A European procedure has cleared an expansion of QSIVA, a weight-management medicine, to patients aged 12 and over. Croatia is among the countries where national approval decisions are expected in the coming weeks. Cancer Care: An American woman says doctors in Croatia initially dismissed her concerns about bloody nipple discharge before a second opinion led to a breast cancer diagnosis. Her account highlights the importance of seeking follow-up care when symptoms persist.

Obesity Treatment: A European procedure has cleared the way for QSIVA, a weight-management drug, to be considered for adolescents aged 12 and over in Croatia and 16 other countries. National decisions are still pending. Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering incentives for doctors to train and work in island and rural communities, alongside virtual clinics and stronger emergency services, to ease long journeys for care. Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy reportedly reached Croatian restaurants, while a chemical incident at a Croatian hotel left 21 people seeking medical help. Farm Health Concerns: Protesters in northern Croatia are opposing a poultry megafarm planned to raise 1.8 million chickens a year, citing risks to public health, nature and local communities.

Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering incentives to draw doctors to island and rural communities, alongside virtual clinics and stronger emergency services. Officials say residents can face hours of travel for care; proposed measures include extra points for specialists who train in underserved areas. Thermal Wellness: Varaždinske Toplice’s archaeological zone has received temporary cultural-asset status, recognizing a Roman-era healing-water site still known for its hot springs. Public Health: A chemical incident at a Croatian hotel left 21 people seeking medical help. Farm Protests: Demonstrators in northern Croatia are opposing large poultry projects, citing risks to protected nature, public health and local communities. One planned farm near Legrad is designed to raise 1.8 million chickens a year.

Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering incentives to attract doctors to island and rural communities, alongside virtual clinics and stronger emergency services. Residents can face hours of travel for care. Food Safety: Salmonella-contaminated cherry tomatoes from Italy reached Croatian restaurants, raising a food-safety concern. Regional Health: A chemical incident at a Croatian hotel sent 21 people seeking medical help. Wellness Heritage: Varaždinske Toplice’s healing thermal springs, used since Roman times, have gained temporary cultural-heritage protection.

Island Healthcare: Croatia is considering incentives for doctors to train and work in island and rural communities, alongside virtual clinics and stronger emergency services. Health Minister Irena Hrstić says local authorities could help recruit staff by providing accommodation. Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy have reached Croatian restaurants, raising concern over foodborne illness. Chemical Incident: A hotel in Croatia was evacuated after a chemical incident left 21 people seeking medical help. Thermal Wellness: Varaždinske Toplice, where Romans used thermal waters nearly 2,000 years ago, has received temporary cultural-heritage status.

Farm Protests: Demonstrators gathered in Koprivnica on October 17 over planned poultry megafarms, warning of risks to public health, protected nature and local communities. A Legrad facility has begun trial operations and is planned to raise 1.8 million chickens a year. Food Safety: Salmonella-linked cherry tomatoes from Italy have reached Croatian restaurants, according to a report; no further details were provided. Hospital Evacuation: A Croatian hotel was evacuated after a chemical incident, with 21 people seeking medical help. Cancer Screening: Croatia is among countries requiring women to be informed about breast density after mammograms, a factor that can make cancer harder to detect. Transplant Care: Croatia’s organ-transplant success has put it among world leaders, according to a recent report.