Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and disability in Croatia and worldwide, accounting for nearly one in every three deaths in Croatia and a significant share of healthcare expenditures. Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common form, is frequently underdiagnosed or diagnosed only after acute events, leading to costly hospitalizations and avoidable mortality. MSCT Coronarography has emerged as a proven, non-invasive diagnostic tool with superior accuracy in detecting CAD compared to traditional stress testing. As a first of its kind in Croatia, the establishment of specialized MSCT Coronarography Unit in Dubrava University Hospital, made of nurses, X-ray technicians, cardiologists and radiologists represents a transformative step in modernizing cardiac diagnostics (1,2).
A dedicated specialized unit for CT coronarography can streamline care pathways, reduce invasive procedures, and lower system-wide costs by early, precise diagnosis, patient-centered care, cost efficiency and resource optimization, integration with preventive cardiology. With targeted government investment, robust implementation strategy, and Ministry of health collaboration, this initiative will reduce healthcare costs, save lives, and align Croatian cardiac care with global best practices.