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Serbia · Health System

Healthcare in Serbia

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Before you move to Serbia, the question that matters isn't "is the healthcare good" — it's "can I, on a temporary visa, actually use it, and what happens in an emergency?" Here's how the system works for a nomad, and where private insurance fits.

At a glance

System
Social health insurance (Bismarck)
Public access (nomads)
Only with social-security contributions
Emergency number
194
Private GP visit
~€40
Care in English
English care in major cities

How the system works

Serbia runs a Bismarck-style compulsory social health insurance system administered by the National Health Insurance Fund (Republički fond za zdravstveno osiguranje, RFZO). It is financed mainly by payroll contributions (a health insurance contribution rate of 10.3% of salary, split 5.15% employee / 5.15% employer), with the state budget covering contributions for non-working groups (pensioners, children, the unemployed). Around 98% of the population is covered. Entitlement, in principle, extends to all citizens and to people with permanent or temporary residence, but in practice an active insurance card depends on contributions being paid. A growing private sector operates alongside the public network.

Serbia has a fast-growing private healthcare sector concentrated in Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities, and it is the default choice for most expats and temporary residents who are not enrolled in RFZO. Major providers include MediGroup (a large private network), Bel Medic (an established private hospital with English-speaking staff and 24/7 service) and Euromedik. Private care is modern, has short waiting times (an appointment is usually available within a day or two, including weekends) and is inexpensive by Western-European standards. Indicative self-pay prices: a private GP/short consultation runs roughly €30-60, with specialist consultations typically €50-100. English is widely spoken in these urban private clinics, and some explicitly target international patients.

Serbia's public system provides broad coverage (about 98% of the population) but performs poorly on financial protection: out-of-pocket payments make up a large share of health spending — in the mid-30s of percent of current health expenditure in recent years (about 35.8% in 2021), well above most EU countries — and WHO finds catastrophic health spending is higher in Serbia than in most EU states and has grown in recent years, concentrated among the poorest fifth of the population and households headed by pensioners and other economically inactive people, driven largely by out-of-pocket payments for outpatient medicines. Public facilities can also have long waiting times for non-urgent specialist and inpatient care.

Good to know

  • Emergency medical care is available to any foreigner during a temporary stay; dial 194 for an ambulance (the EU-wide 112 also works in Serbia and routes ambulance calls to 194).
  • Legally employed foreigners registered through the Central Registry (CROSO) are enrolled in RFZO (mandatory social insurance) from their first day of lawful employment, giving access to public healthcare — but they must hold private insurance for the period before employment begins.
  • The private sector in Belgrade and Novi Sad is modern, English-speaking and cheap by Western standards (private GP visit roughly €30-60, specialist €50-100), with same-week appointments — the practical default for nomads.
  • Visitors from the roughly 20 countries with a bilateral health-insurance agreement (including EHIC holders from select EU states) can receive urgent care without paying up front; others pay out of pocket and reclaim from their own insurer.

Watch out for

  • A short-stay nomad who is not employed in Serbia generally cannot use public care for free — temporary-residence applicants must hold health insurance covering their whole intended stay, and non-employed people only get public entitlement once contributions are paid.
  • Citizens of countries with no health-insurance agreement with Serbia must pay for urgent medical services and seek reimbursement later from their home insurer.
  • Out-of-pocket spending is high and financial protection is weak, especially for outpatient medicines — budget for paying directly or carry private/travel health insurance.
  • Public-sector English is not guaranteed and waiting times for non-urgent specialist and inpatient care can be long; English-speaking care is reliable mainly in urban private clinics.

🩺 Insurance you'll need

Because temporary residents largely can't lean on the public system, and the Temp. residence (no DNV) requires cover, private health insurance is part of the move — not an afterthought. We list the plans that plausibly meet Serbia's requirement, ranked by fit.

See qualifying plans for Serbia →

Healthcare in Serbia: FAQ

Healthcare in Serbia: FAQ

Can I use public healthcare in Serbia as a digital nomad?

In short — the public system is open only if you pay into the social-security/health scheme — most nomads use private cover instead. Serbia has a fast-growing private healthcare sector concentrated in Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities, and it is the default choice for most expats and temporary residents who are not enrolled in RFZO. Major providers include MediGroup (a large private network), Bel Medic (an established private hospital with English-speaking staff and 24/7 service) and Euromedik. Private care is modern, has short waiting times (an appointment is usually available within a day or two, including weekends) and is inexpensive by Western-European standards. Indicative self-pay prices: a private GP/short consultation runs roughly €30-60, with specialist consultations typically €50-100. English is widely spoken in these urban private clinics, and some explicitly target international patients.

What is the emergency number in Serbia?

194. Call it for life-threatening emergencies; emergency departments will treat you regardless of insurance, but you may be billed afterwards if you're not covered.

Do I need private health insurance in Serbia?

Yes — beyond being prudent, the Temp. residence (no DNV) requires it (required (explicit)). See the qualifying plans for Serbia.

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