Access to Medical Treatment in the Czech Republic

Medical care in the Czech Republic rates incredibly well in comparison to many other countries, with local physicians expertly trained to treat a number of conditions and low wait times in local hospitals.

In terms of being an international student, you will need to get healthcare insurance to cover you during your time in the country.

This is the same for Czech nationals, as the system is run using an insurance-based system, however foreign nationals are expected to pay monthly premiums which can lead to slightly higher costs than nationals who pay for their insurance once. 

The average cost of a one-year medical care policy is around 400 euros for foreigners residing in the Czech Republic, and there are a number of different insurance companies on the market who offer these, including MAXIMA pojišťovna, a.s., Slavia pojišťovna, a.s. and Pojišťovna VZP, a.s.

Before making the move, we advise you to have a full and thorough health check in your own country to make sure you’re in full health and in the best condition to visit. This will also mean you’ll be less likely to need any medical attention when you first arrive in the Czech Republic.

Once you have your health insurance sorted, you should print out a list of your local healthcare facilities that are partnered with your insurer and keep this somewhere safe. This will be very useful if you do become ill, as it will mean you know exactly who to contact and where to go.

If you do end up at a facility which isn’t partnered with your insurance, you can be left with hefty bills, so we do advise that you’re careful to understand what is included within your insurance policy.

Here in the Czech Republic, people are advised not to go to work or school if they’re not feeling well, so it will be normal for you to go to the doctors to be checked out and then potentially take a few days or weeks to rest. You will most likely need correspondence from your doctor for any absence, but this usually isn’t difficult to obtain.

Be aware that international students are expected to have at least 80% attendance on their courses, so take this into account when you’re not feeling well.