Pharmaceutical activity

First option — FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES
 
If you are established in an EU/EEA state, you have the freedom to provide services on occasional and temporary basis, without the obligation of establishment in Croatia or mandatory membership in the Croatian Medical Chamber.
 
In that case, an online declaration is sent to the competent authority via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications, along with a scan of the following data and documents (signed, without a stamp):
  • proof of EU/EEA citizenship
  • an attestation certifying that the holder is legally established in a EU/EEA state for the purpose of pursuing the activities
  • evidence of no criminal convictions
  • proof that the competent authority of the EU/EEA state of establishment has not issued a temporary or permanent ban on the provision of the service
  • certificate of the nature and duration of the activity issued by the competent authority of the EU/EEA state of establishment based on previous professional experience
  • proof of professional qualification
  • proof of the level of knowledge of the Croatian language for the purpose of pursuing the activities in Croatia
  • information on insurance
 
 
Second option — FREEDOM TO ESTABLISH
 
If you are established in an EU/EEA state, as a physical or legal person you have the freedom to provide services on a permanent basis, by registering an establishment and delivering the following documents:
  • proof of professional qualification
  • decision on recognised foreign professional qualification in the Republic of Croatia (certified copy)
  • proof of membership and license for independent work issued by the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists
  • proof of citizenship — certified translation by a court interpreter
  • marriage certificate or other certificate proving change of name and/or surname (translation)
 
Recognition of qualifications
 
Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists carries out the procedure of the recognition of professional qualifications according to the automatic recognition system:
  • if the professional qualification was obtained in the EU/EEA and the applicant is an EU/EEA national.
The application for recognition of the qualification which will be carried out under the automatic recognition system is submitted via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications along with the following documents and their certified translation into Croatian done by a court interpreter:
  • proof of formal qualifications or other evidence of successful completion of formal education
  • proof of professional qualification
 
The application and documentation may be submitted by post or directly to the competent authority or by electronic means referred to above.
 
  1. Evidence required by the automatic recognition system:
  • proof of professional qualification set out in point 5.6.2. of the Directive 2005/36 EC (a certificate from the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA state of origin attesting that this evidence of formal qualifications is precisely the one covered by the Directive may also be submitted; the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists can verify this with another authority via the IMI system)
  • certificate of the competent authority of the applicant's EU/EEA state of origin confirming that the professional qualification satisfies the minimum training conditions set out in Article 44 of the Directive 2005/36 EC (the said certificate may be requested by the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists from another authority via the IMI system)
  • certificate of acquired rights from the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA state of origin when the professional qualification does not satisfy the minimum training conditions referred to in Article 44 of the Directive 2005/36 EC where the training commenced before the reference date referred to in point 5.6.2. of the Directive 2005/36 EC, and the holder of the professional qualification has effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities in question for at least three consecutive years during the five years prior to the date of issue of the certificate
  • in case the applicant’s professional qualification acquired outside the EU/EEA has already been recognised by another EU/EEA state, the application must be accompanied by:
    • evidence that the EU/EEA state has recognised the professional qualification obtained in a third state and has established the minimum training conditions referred to in Article 44 of the Directive
    • certificate from the same EU/EEA state attesting that the applicant has effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities of a pharmacist for at least three consecutive years within their EU/EEA state
 
  1. Evidence required by the general recognition system shall be submitted to the competent authority by post as certified copies of the original with a translation into Croatian:
  • proof of citizenship
  • proof of previously completed education
  • proof of formal qualifications or other proof of completion of formal education
    • diploma
    • diploma supplement
    • study curriculum valid at the time of completion of the studies      
  • proof of professional training and life-long learning programme
  • proof of professional experience
  • proof of membership in a foreign medical chamber, if a member
  • attestation of competence
 
The Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists, as the competent authority, may request the applicant to provide other evidence in accordance with Annex VII of the Directive 2005/36 EC:
  • proof that they are of good character or repute
  • proof that the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA state of origin did not prohibit the pursuit of the profession as a pharmacist in the event of serious professional misconduct or criminal offence (such documents may be replaced by a solemn declaration made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative authority or before a notary)
  • proof that the applicant is insured against the financial risks arising from their professional liability on the territory of the Republic of Croatia or the EU
  • power of attorney for receiving documents or power of representation to a person domiciled in the Republic of Croatia, for applicants domiciled abroad
  • proof of payment of the fee
 
Fees
 
EUR 212.03 for general recognition procedures
EUR 53.01 for automatic recognition procedures
 
The administrative fee is not paid upon request, decision or complaint.
 
Payment via online banking
 
IBAN: HR8523600001101243041
Reference number: OIB (PIN) of the payer
The purpose of the payment: Fee for recognition of foreign professional qualifications
User: Hrvatska ljekarnička komora (Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists), Martićeva 27, 10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
 
In the case payment is made abroad, the equivalent of the above amount shall be paid at the mid-market exchange rate of the Croatian National Bank on the day of payment, to:
Giro account/IBAN of the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists, opened with Zagrebačka banka d.d, HR8523600001101243041
SWIFT/BIC: ZABAHR2X
Reference number: Applicant’s OIB or other applicant’s identification number
 
Competent authority and regulations
 
Ministry of Health
Ksaver 200a, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 4607 555
pisarnica@miz.hr
https://pisk.gov.hr
 
Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists
Martićeva 27
10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 4616 805
hljk@hljk.hr
https://pisk.gov.hr
 
Health Care Act (OG 100/18, 125/19, 133/20, 147/20, 136/21, 119/22, 156/22, 33/23, 145/23, 36/24, 102/25)
Act on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (OG 82/15, 70/19, 47/20, 123/23, 126/25)
General Administrative Procedure Act (OG 47/09 and 110/21)
Ordinance on the Criteria for the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (OG 89/13)
 
Authorisation
 
Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the automatic recognition system:
Decision of the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists on administrative application.
 
Deadline for obtaining automatic recognition: within 30 days and no later than 3 months from the date of receipt of a duly completed application.
 
Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the general recognition system:
Decision of the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists on administrative application.
 
Deadline for obtaining recognition under the general system: within 3 months from the date of receipt of a duly completed application, and may be extended by a maximum of one month if there are reasonable grounds.
 
Legal remedies
 
You may submit a complaint within 15 days of receipt of the decision to the Croatian Chamber of Pharmacists, Martićeva 27, 10 000 Zagreb or electronically by sending an e-mail to hljk@hljk.hr or via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
 
The complainant must state the decision he is contesting, the name of the professional chamber as a body governed by public law which has adopted the said decision and the reasons for his dissatisfaction with the decision. If the complainant presents new facts and new evidence, it is for the complainant to state why he did not submit those facts and evidence during the proceedings at first instance before the professional chamber.
 
When the medical professional chamber, as the first-instance body, receives a complaint, it will examine whether the complaint is admissible, timely and made by an authorised person.
 
If the complaint is not admissible, timely and made by an authorised person, the professional chamber shall dismiss the complaint by a decision.
 
If the professional chamber does not dismiss the complaint or replace the contested decision with a new one, it will immediately submit the complaint with the case file to the Ministry of Health as the second-instance body.
 
The Ministry of Health must make a decision on the complaint and deliver it to the party via the first-instance body as soon as possible and no later than 60 days from the date of the submission of the duly-made complaint.
 
Administrative proceedings may be initiated against the second-instance decision by filing a complaint with the competent Administrative Court (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka or Osijek) within 30 days of the date of receipt of the decision. The complaint shall be filed directly or by post and may also be recorded in the minutes.