Health 

Medical care in the Czech Republic 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  call an ambulance at any time 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.

In Brno we have good health services  done by public as well as private hospitals. In case of emergency, you can visit or contact hospitals/clinics below.

With your health insurance you can visit any general practitioner (GP) or dentist. If you have a specific problem (e.g. with an eye), first visit a GP (try to make an appointment, if you can) who will examine you and may then arrange a visit to a specialist. Do not forget to bring the insurance card (or another insurance document) with you. If the doctor does not accept your card and you have to pay, keep your receipts, your home insurance company will refund what you paid.

Insurance

In accordance with the Insurance Act No. 277/2009 Coll. and Act No. 326/1999 Coll. (The Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic), it is necessary to have a valid health insurance policy in order to obtain a visa for foreigners coming to the Czech Republic.

Valid health insurance is a necessary condition for all foreigners coming to the Czech Republic for tourism, work, or studies, either short-term or long-term. The law requires all foreigners to have a so-called commercial health insurance policy for foreigners. Apart from meeting one of the conditions for being granted a visa, health insurance for foreigners provides necessary financial coverage of medical care provided (including regular medical check-ups in some cases) in the event of an injury.

Essential and urgent medical care insurance – covers only the cases where the injury may lead to physical harm and therefore requires urgent and immediate care. This means that such insurance will cover the provision of medical care in the event on an injury but will not cover any subsequent medical examinations or checks related to postoperative or post-injury examinations. This type of insurance is among the cheaper healthcare insurance policy options for foreigners and is typically preferred in the case of short-term stays of up to 90 days.

Insurance of comprehensive healthcare for foreigners - insurance policy concluded for periods exceeding 90 days. This kind of policy covers both urgent care (acute cases) and regular preventive check-ups. Such insurance will cover the provision of medical care in the event on an injury as well as any subsequent post-injury examinations or checks.

Each type of insurance of comprehensive healthcare for foreigners has different limits of indemnity.

The following insurance companies are licenced to provide insurance of comprehensive healthcare for foreigners in the Czech Republic: 

• VZP or General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic – the first and largest health insurance company in the Czech Republic.  Details about the health care possibilities can be seen here
  
• MAXIMA Insurance Company – provides both types of heath insurance. For details, see this overview.
• UNIQA Insurance Company – you may choose the type of comprehensive medical care for foreigners.
  

States and categories of citizens who are excused from the requirement to submit a proof of travel medical insurance, as relates from international agreements:

• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Japan
• Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Republic of Tunisia
• Serbia
• Turkey
• United States of America
• Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme
• European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Holders

The Fulbright Scholarship Programme
"Youth in Action" European Commission Former Programme
For more detailed information please visit website of Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

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