Health Care
The following section of the Prague for All website will provide you with basic information on health care in the Czech Republic, health insurance options for foreigners, medical and emergency care, as well as contacts for facilities focused on migrants and other useful information.
Health care and the health care system in the Czech Republic are of a very high standard. Every person residing in the Czech Republic (both Czech citizens and foreigners) is obliged to have health insurance. The system is based on the principle of solidarity – all insured persons contribute to it regularly, and anyone may draw from it when necessary. Health care within the standard scope is provided to every insured person; beyond the standard scope, co-payments for medical care and medicines may apply.
For foreigners living in the Czech Republic, the scope of health care provided depends on the type of health insurance they have. In particular, foreigners may have either commercial health insurance or, like Czech citizens, public health insurance. In general, public health insurance covers a wider range of care and is more advantageous for foreigners. Every foreign national becomes eligible for public health insurance upon obtaining permanent residence in the Czech Republic. Further details are provided in the Health Insurance section.
All economically active persons contribute a certain percentage of their income to the health insurance system. For employees, part of the contribution is paid by the employer; self-employed persons (OSVČ) pay the insurance themselves. For certain groups of persons, the health insurance contributions are paid by the state (e.g. for dependent children).
Information on the scope of health services covered by public health insurance can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for the area of health care and other related matters, including health insurance.
Last update: 4 March 2025