The standard of healthcare in the Czech Republic is generally high – in fact, the country’s healthcare scheme has been praised as one of the best in the EU. The affordability and standard of medical treatment have even seen the country emerge as a popular destination for medical tourism in Europe.
It’s compulsory to have health insurance in the Czech Republic, whether through a public or private health insurance provider. Czech citizens, residents, and anyone working for a Czech employer are automatically insured under the country’s public healthcare system and pay monthly contributions. Other long-term visitors will have to use a private insurance company, and short-term travellers are expected to have appropriate travel insurance.
Health insurance in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic provides free medical treatment to Czech citizens, permanent residents and foreigners working for a local company through a universal healthcare system that uses an approved Czech health insurance company.
Czech citizens, registered foreign residents, and employees of companies based in the country must make regular and compulsory contributions to the universal healthcare fund. It is mandatory for employers to pay a portion of the monthly fee, with the employee contributing the remainder of the fee. A small co-payment is usually also required for treatment received.
Expats in the Czech Republic who do not have permanent residency and are not employed by a Czech company are not entitled to free medical care. That said, it’s still compulsory to have health insurance, and expats staying in the country for over 90 days will be required to show proof of coverage under a private healthcare scheme. In such a case, it’s imperative to arrange for private insurance in advance.
Foreigners staying in the country for less than 90 days must provide proof of travel health insurance. EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to meet this requirement and access state healthcare during short visits. UK citizens can make use of their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post Brexit.
Public healthcare in the Czech Republic
Czech public healthcare is excellent and heavily subsidised, and everyone enrolled in the system has equal access to care. Many doctors in public hospitals were trained in top foreign universities and can speak English, although this is not always the case.
Although the level of care in public hospitals is superb, patients may experience long waiting periods before receiving treatment. Some expats using the public sector have also complained of doctors being short tempered or unsympathetic, but this is largely due to the high turnover of patients and short consultation times, and shouldn’t be taken personally.
Private healthcare in the Czech Republic
Czech private medical care is exceptional, and the staff at private hospitals are highly trained. Although private healthcare is pricier than public healthcare in the Czech Republic, many private hospitals are better equipped to cater to expat patients. This is because private medical centres have a higher proportion of English-speaking staff and private clinics have a more service-oriented approach to providing medical care. A further advantage is that patients often do not have to wait as long to receive treatment as they might at public hospitals.
Pharmacies in the Czech Republic
Pharmacies, some of which can be found attached to hospitals, are widely available in the Czech Republic. Some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If using any medications regularly, expats should ensure they know the generic name, as brand names can vary from country to country.
Vaccinations for the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a largely safe country, with minimal health hazards and no required pre-travel vaccinations. Still, expats should ensure that their routine vaccinations are up to date, including those for mumps, measles, rubella, chickenpox, and polio.
Emergency services in the Czech Republic
Emergency services in the Czech Republic are generally good, as are ambulance response times. In the case of an emergency, dial 112 to be connected to the EU emergency line. This guarantees an English-speaking operator. Otherwise, Czech medical emergency services can be reached at 155.