Medical care
Medical care in Czechia is on a very good professional and technological level. Results of Czech doctors in some fields can be considered as top-ranking worldwide. Health care is provided by state-run and private medical facilities. In the event of sudden illness or injury out of surgery hours it is ensured in the emergency departments in hospitals. In cases of sudden serious illness you can any time call an ambulance on 112 all over the country.
Medicines to relieve flu or a cold and other similar preparations can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies. A prescription from a doctor is required to purchase other medicines.
The Czech public health insurance system is based on obligatory participation of insured persons. Most medical facilities have concluded a contract with an insurance company on provision and settlement of costs for healthcare and only provide insured patients with the essential care subject to settlement of the excess as stipulated by law.
Insurance
Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland
If you have a valid health insurance in your home country, you should apply for the EU health insurance card (EHIC). This free card gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider. Please note that EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.
Students from countries outside the EU
Medical travel insurance is not required from citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cuba, Japan, Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Republic of Tunisia and Serbia. The same exception applies to participants of the Erasmus Mundus program, Fulbright scholarship program, European Voluntary Service of the EC Youth in Action programme, as well as holders of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by another EU member state and a GHIC card issued by the UK. If you wish to use these advantages you should follow these instructions.
All other international students who intend to stay in Czechia for more than 90 days are required to purchase comprehensive health insurance coverage within 90 days from entry to the territory. You will be asked to submit a proof of Czech health insurance when you apply for visa. Follow the website of the Ministry of the Interior for more details.
medical care for czech government scholarship holders
International students who were granted the Czech Government scholarship are entitled to free use of standard medical care in Czechia throughout the duration of their scholarship. The Ministry of Health will pay the expenses of health treatments to the same extent as for the Czech insured person. Unpaid care (e.g. co-payments for medicines, co-participation in the case of certain medical devices) will be covered by the scholarship recipient. Czech Governement scholarship holders must always present to the health care provider their valid Decision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on granting a scholarship.
Details about the procedure to get free medical care:
- Medical care for Czech government scholarship holders - leaflet for students in English
- Medical care for Czech government scholarship holders - leaflet for health care providers in Czech
In case of questions, please contact the Ministry of Health at cizinci@mzcr.cz or call +420 224 972 850.