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Medicover: Patients Receive Diagnostics According to Swedish Standards

Laurentiu Luca, Managing Director South Eastern Europe Medicover Diagnostic Services
Laurentiu Luca, Managing Director South Eastern Europe Medicover Diagnostic Services / Image by: foto

Synevo became part of the Medicover group last April, a leading international provider of healthcare and diagnostic services based in Sweden. Medicover, whose shares are listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, offers a wide range of services thanks to its divisions of healthcare and diagnostic services supported by an extensive European and international network of medical centers, hospitals, laboratories, and blood sampling sites, noted Laurenţiu Luca, General Director of Diagnostic Services for the Southeast Europe region at Medicover. Medicover, he said, is thus introducing a Swedish business approach based on patient-centered values, transparency, operational discipline, continuous innovation, and a commitment to long-term social welfare in Croatia through Synevo. He believes that this sets a new standard for diagnostic excellence and raises the level of available medical services in the country.

What do Medicover and Synevo bring to the Croatian market?

– Entering the Croatian market strengthens the national diagnostic system by connecting it with a modern, efficient, and high-quality European system. Patients gain access to advanced testing, faster results, and reliable diagnostics aligned with Swedish standards of transparency, operational discipline, continuous innovation, and long-term social responsibility. In Croatia, we operate under the Synevo brand. One of the most important differentiating advantages we bring to Croatia is the advanced Medicover genomic portfolio that has been developed over more than twenty-five years and is supported by five modern laboratories across Europe. This includes CE-certified genetic tests, from pre-conception testing and prenatal screenings to comprehensive oncology panels and whole genome sequencing. We also offer liquid biopsy for therapy selection and precise monitoring of oncological diseases. Building on regional operational synergies and increased efficiency enabled by Medicover’s centralized test processing and optimized processes, patients in Croatia now benefit from healthcare services aligned with Swedish quality and care standards.

Why is Croatia strategically important and how does it fit into the broader picture of the Southeast European market?

– Croatia is a rapidly developing healthcare services market integrated into the European Union, with a growing demand for private diagnostic services, a strong digital infrastructure, and a strategically important geographical position within Southeast Europe. Croatia is a key market for Medicover within the regional network, a platform for expanding clinical excellence in line with Swedish standards and a strongly customer-oriented approach in the SEE region. By strengthening our presence here, we contribute to improving the quality, consistency, and availability of diagnostic services at the regional level.

What do you enable for Croatian users?

– Through the international network of Medicover laboratories, Croatia is connected to advanced immunological testing, including endocrinology, IgE allergy testing, autoimmune diagnostics, and hormonal analyses. Among them, the Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT) stands out, a rare immunological test of high complexity that is available only in a limited number of specialized laboratories across Europe due to the need to work with live cell cultures and strict standardization. LTT provides key insights into delayed allergic reactions, chronic infections, immune regulation disorders, and overall immune system function. Access to such specialized capabilities strengthens Croatia’s position within the regional diagnostic ecosystem and enables physicians to utilize tools that are otherwise available only in advanced reference centers.

What innovations are you introducing?

– We are introducing advanced technology-based diagnostic solutions designed to significantly enhance the quality, speed, and reliability of services in Croatia. Patients gain access to modern laboratory technologies, specialized tests, and centralized processing of complex analyses, including highly sophisticated genetic testing. Centralizing advanced analyses within Medicover’s regional laboratories ensures greater accuracy, shorter processing times, and continuous quality improvement. This model is particularly beneficial in the fields of human genetics and oncology. In a system where 83 percent of healthcare spending relates to the public sector, and waiting lists encourage patients to use private diagnostics, our emphasis on fast and reliable diagnostics with direct payment directly addresses current needs and supports further modernization of the national healthcare system.

How will you further impact the Croatian healthcare system?

– Innovations primarily include a comprehensive genomic portfolio (pre-conception and prenatal testing, oncology panels, and whole genome sequencing) for precision medicine needs and liquid biopsy that enables personalized therapy selection and sensitive monitoring of oncological diseases. Additionally, the advanced immunological portfolio, including LTT, which allows for the detection of delayed allergic reactions to drugs or materials, reveals chronic immune activation and identifies cell-mediated reactions that are not visible through standard antibody tests. Together, these services elevate the level of complex diagnostics in Croatia and ensure access to tools that enable earlier disease detection, more accurate diagnosis, and more individualized treatment decisions.

What will you invest in and how will you develop diagnostics?

– We will invest in strengthening the diagnostic infrastructure in Croatia by modernizing laboratories, expanding test availability, and integrating local services into the broader Medicover network. This includes modern laboratory technologies, increased automation, digital tools to enhance the user experience, and faster and more precise diagnostics thanks to centralized analysis processing. Key elements include the introduction of genomic diagnostic processes (logistics, quality control, and result interpretation) directed towards Medicover’s CE-certified specialized laboratories, broader availability of liquid biopsy in precision oncology, and expansion of advanced immunological services, including those conducted in Medicover’s specialized laboratory in Germany. Furthermore, the integration of complex immunological tests such as LTT, supported by special logistics (handling of live cell samples, optimized transport conditions), trained personnel, and standardized protocols, as well as further strengthening the quality assurance system and complete traceability of samples throughout the testing process to ensure repeatability and accuracy of results. These investments enhance the quality of diagnostics and patient treatment outcomes and place Croatia at the forefront of modern laboratory medicine.

What will you emphasize in your business in the long term?

– On consistently high quality of patient-centered diagnostic services with continuous investments in technology, innovation, and operational excellence. The goal will be to expand the availability of advanced tests, strengthen digital solutions, and maintain consistent clinical quality across all facilities. We remain committed to sustainable growth, strong regional cooperation, and creating long-term value for patients, healthcare partners, and the Croatian healthcare system.

What else does the strategy include?

– Our long-term strategy also includes further development of clinical genomics, including comprehensive genetic testing and whole genome sequencing with CE certification and high-quality result interpretation, expansion of precision oncology through liquid biopsy and expanded oncology panels, and continued provision of highly specialized immunological services, including LTT, thereby supporting personalized medicine in complex and difficult-to-diagnose cases. These capabilities further affirm our long-term commitment to raising diagnostic standards and improving health outcomes for patients in Croatia.

*Content created in collaboration with Synevo Croatia

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