Dobrodošli na hrvatsku stranicu pri ESCP-u!
Welcome to the Croatian ESCP site!
- Population: 3,800,000
- ESCP members: 9
- Digestive surgeons: ~180
- National societies:
- Croatian Society for Digestive Surgery
- Croatian Society for Endoscopic Surgery
- Croatian Surgical Society
- ESCP representative Name: Damir Karlović (email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) - National examination: General Surgery; Abdominal Surgery
- Journals: Acta Chirugica Croatica
- EBSQ in Coloproctology: 3 certified surgeons
About coloproctology in Croatia
Croatia is a Central European and Mediterranean country, situated at the crossroads of Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea. With a population of approximately 3.8 million, it is known for its exceptional natural beauty - from numerous national parks to a stunning Adriatic coastline and more than a thousand islands.
Croatia has made significant contributions to global culture and science. The necktie (cravat) originated here, along with inventions such as the fountain pen and the torpedo. Notably, Nikola Tesla, one of history’s greatest inventors, was born in what is today Croatia.
There is currently no official specialisation or subspecialisation in coloproctology in Croatia. The recognised surgical training pathway includes specialisation in general surgery, with a focus on abdominal/digestive surgery.
Several tertiary centres across the country treat complex coloproctological cases, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), complex proctology, functional disorders (e.g. incontinence), and pelvic floor conditions.
Most well-established centres routinely perform laparoscopic surgery, and some have begun to implement and standardise robotic colorectal procedures.
Croatia also has several recognised educational centres, such as University Hospital Centre Rijeka - a National Reference Centre for Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery - which has been running laparoscopic colorectal surgery courses for nearly 20 years.
Scientific meetings and professional societies
- The Croatian Society for Digestive Surgery organises a biennial congress (next in May 2027), an annual Proctology Meeting (next in November 2025), and a biennial Enterostomal Therapy Meeting.
- The Croatian Society for Endoscopic Surgery holds a congress every two years, with the next scheduled for 2026.
- The Croatian Surgical Society also organises a biennial national congress.