Health Care in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Medical care in the Czech and Slovak republics is generally not on a par with Western Europe or the United States. Doctors may be knowledgeable and highly skilled, but the availability of up-to-date medical facilities lags behind the West.

If you only require routine care, seeking treatment shouldn’t cause you any worry. For more serious problems, you may want to seek treatment in Western Europe or at home, depending upon the immediate severity and the long-term consequences.

The accessibility to free public health care in the Czech and Slovak republics depends upon payment of social security taxes. If you have both Slovak or Czech work and residency permits and your employer deducts taxes from your pay, then you are eligible for free health care.

Because of the republics’ transformations to market economies, it is becoming increasingly common for physicians to set up private practices. If you wish to see a doctor in private practice, you will need to pay for their services yourself. If you will be away for more than six months, it’s a good idea to arrange private medical traveling insurance before you leave. Most of the health care facilities listed below have English-speaking personnel.

    Medical Facilities and Assistance

    Prague

    Diplomatic Health Care for Foreigners
    Na Holmoce 724
    Prague 5
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 5292-2146 (7:30 am to 4pm)
    Phone: (02) 5292-1111 or (02) 5292-2191 (after hours)

    First Aid
    Prvni Pomoc
    Palackeho 5
    Prague 1
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 422-2521 or (02) 422-2520 (24 hours)

    Facultni Polikinika
    Karlovo namesti 32
    Prague 2
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 490-4111 (switchboard)

    First Medical Clinic of Prague
    Vysehradska 35
    Prague 2
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 29 89 78
    Phone/fax: (02) 29 22 86
    24-hour emergency phone (02) 0601 22 5050 (cellular)

    Bratislava

    Main Adult Outpatient Clinic
    Mytna 5
    Bratislava
    Slovakia
    Phone: (07) 49 65 80

    Pharmacies

    Prague

    Lekarna
    Na prikope 5
    Prague 1
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 421-0229
    24 hours

    Konevova 150
    Prague 3
    Czech Republic
    Phone: (02) 644-1895
    24 hours

    Bratislava

    Pharmacy
    Spitalska 3
    Bratislava
    Slovakia
    Phone: (07) 51 01 14
    24 hours

    Pharmacy
    Mytna 9
    Bratislava
    Slovakia
    Phone: (07) 4 65 15
    24 hours

 

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