Not all experiences with the Croatian healthcare system are unpleasant.
A British tourist had an unpleasant and slightly worrying incident recently at the Žnjan beach in Split, where he was holidaying with his wife, reports Večernji List on August 23, 2018.
“After I exited the sea, I put on my flip-flops and felt a sting. I looked down and saw a hypodermic needle stuck in my foot,” said Daniel, adding that this was his first visit to Split. He immediately went to a lifeguard 30 metres away, who immediately treated the wound with a disinfectant.
The tourist was relieved for a while, but he started worrying about possible infection. He asked the lifeguard whether the treatment he had done was sufficient. While the lifeguard was sure there was no reason to worry, Daniel asked a Croatian friend what he should do and received an advice that he should rather go to an emergency medicine department.
“In the evening, I went to the emergency room where I was admitted within five minutes. I explained to the nurse why I came and showed her the needle. She gave me the number of an epidemiological centre and advised me to call them urgently for further treatment. I was immediately admitted there and a physician listened to my story. He fully and professionally explained the possible scenarios and risks and advised that I should receive two injections – tetanus and hepatitis. I took both; he was very professional, and I received fast and accurate help,” said the British tourist, adding that he would get tested on HIV after he returns to Britain.
Pero Rizvan, of the Department of Epidemiology of the County Teaching Institute of Public Health, says that the chances of getting HIV are quite low since the virus is highly vulnerable to exterior conditions. He also emphasizes that people should not panic when something similar happens to them, because in more than a thousand similar cases recorded from the 1990s to the present, there has not been one case of confirmed infection.
Translated from Večernji List.
