University Hospital Centre Zagreb (KBC Zagreb)

University Hospital Centre Zagreb (Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb, KBC Zagreb) is Croatia's largest hospital and the country's primary tertiary-care institution, situated in the Rebro district of central Zagreb. Founded in 1942 and closely affiliated with the University of Zagreb School of Medicine, the centre functions as both a major treatment facility and a leading academic research hub. It encompasses more than 40 clinical departments and institutes across a sprawling campus, providing a comprehensive range of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services to approximately 300,000 patients annually. Core clinical strengths include cardiothoracic surgery, oncology, organ transplantation — including kidney and liver programmes — and neurosurgery. The hospital also operates a national-level trauma centre and houses Croatia's principal burn unit. Care for Croatian residents and EU nationals is delivered through the state health insurer HZZO, making KBC Zagreb effectively free at the point of use for entitled patients. English is spoken by a significant proportion of medical staff, and the hospital maintains basic interpreter provisions for other languages. It does not hold JCI accreditation and does not operate a dedicated international patient services office, so non-EU visitors seeking elective procedures typically coordinate through private clinics or intermediaries. Telemedicine services are limited. Despite its public-sector character, KBC Zagreb is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in Southeast Europe for clinical outcomes and research output.