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