PITTSBURGH — Zabok, Croatia — UPMC Hillman Cancer Center has announced a significant partnership with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), marking a pivotal step in enhancing access to advanced oncology care in Croatia. The collaboration was celebrated at a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony in Zabok on January 7, 2026.
This agreement allows patients to receive medical services at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, located within General Hospital Zabok and the Croatian Veterans’ Hospital. The HZZO Management Board has approved UPMC to perform 600 stereotactic surgical procedures and 1,500 PET-CT scans in 2026, significantly boosting the availability of critical cancer treatments. Stereotactic procedures are particularly vital for treating tumors in challenging locations, often reducing the number of therapy sessions required and facilitating earlier cancer detection.
Enhancing Oncology Care in Croatia
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Croatia is part of UPMC, a renowned non-profit hospital network based in Pittsburgh, USA. The project has garnered support from General Hospital Zabok, the Croatian Veterans’ Hospital, Krapina-Zagorje County, and the Croatian government, highlighting its importance in the region.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rajko Fureš, M.D., deputy director of General Hospital Zabok and the Croatian Veterans’ Hospital, emphasized the partnership’s significance. “Collaboration between UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Croatia and General Hospital Zabok represents a major advancement for oncology patients in Krapina-Zagorje County, across Croatia, and the wider region,” he said. “This partnership opens a new chapter in improving cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up, utilizing modern therapeutic and diagnostic approaches that will contribute to better treatment outcomes.”
Advanced Technology and Global Expertise
Beth Wild, president of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, reiterated UPMC’s mission to deliver world-class oncology care. “From the very beginning, our goal in coming to Croatia has been to provide patients with access to advanced therapies enabling faster, more precise and personalized cancer care,” she stated. “This is just the beginning of our long-term commitment to research, innovation, and close collaboration with Croatian public hospitals, physicians, scientists, and partners.”
The center in Zabok is equipped with the latest Varian TrueBeam system for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), allowing for precise treatment of difficult-to-reach tumors while protecting healthy tissue. This technology often reduces lengthy treatment protocols to just a few sessions or even a single treatment, without compromising efficacy or safety.
Local Impact and Future Prospects
Željko Kolar, Prefect of Krapina-Zagorje County, expressed gratitude for the partnership. “Nearly six years ago, we spoke of a dream: to bring one of the world’s leading health care institutions, UPMC, to Croatia,” he said. “Today, Zabok now has a world-class cancer center with state-of-the-art diagnostics and medical equipment.”
The investment has received support from patient associations, Croatian veterans, and volunteer organizations. Nives Moric, president of the P.I.N.K. Life Association, highlighted the importance of providing services closer to patients’ homes, enhancing accessibility and convenience.
Opened in March 2025 as the sixth UPMC Hillman location in Europe, the Croatia center is part of a global network of nearly 80 locations. It provides comprehensive services, including radiation and medical oncology, as well as PET-CT diagnostics, bringing modern oncology care to regions where such services were previously unavailable.
Wild concluded the ceremony with a forward-looking statement: “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our Croatian partners to create a healthier future — where access to life-saving cancer care is no longer a challenge, but a promise fulfilled for all.”
