Best hospitals for treatment in Czechia

Features of the Czech medical system

After joining the European Union in 2004, the Czech Republic took essential steps toward Western standards of medicine and medical tourism. Once a complete state system, today, it provides equal opportunities to the private sector. All residents have free access to public hospitals in Czech Republic.

There are 265 private and public hospitals in the Czech Republic, employing more than 211.000 medical staff. Many doctors have experience working in other EU countries. Several hospitals in Czech Republic have been awarded the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) certificate.

On average, 7.8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is allocated to healthcare. An essential source of funding is the assistance of various EU funds for constructing hospitals in Czech Republic and purchasing new equipment.

Due to this, the level of medicine in the Czech Republic in most areas today is comparable to that of leading European countries.

There are two medical systems in the Czech Republic:

• Public (free) is intended for Czech citizens, residents, and refugees. It covers almost all types of care, including annual preventive examinations, vaccination, and physiotherapy. For each insured person, the employer deducts 4.5% of the income. Students, pensioners, unemployed persons, and children are exempt from these deductions.
• The contractual system plays the most significant role in medical tourism). Foreigners who have arrived in the Czech Republic on a short-term visit can apply for contractual insurance.

Without insurance, you will have to pay for each visit, which can result in a large sum, even for simple manipulations.

Best field of treatment in the Czech Republic

The countries with the highest level of medicine are traditionally considered to be the USA, Israel, and Germany. However, in hospitals in Czech Republic, you can get high-quality medical care at a more affordable price. Czech spa treatment has long been famous (Karlovy Vary, Jachymov, Marianske Lazne, Podebrady, Luhacovice, Frantiskovy Lazne, etc.). But today, you can find professional treatment and accurate diagnosis in any branch of medicine here.

Popular areas of medical tourism:

• Orthopedics;
• Neurosurgery;
• Rehabilitation;
• Oncology;
• Cardiac surgery
• Reproductology.

There are medical treatment centers in the Czech Republic where surgery for obesity is carried out. Patients with overweight and concomitant pathologies can undergo a comprehensive examination and treatment under international standards. Bariatric specialists in the Czech Republic take on even the most complex cases.

Plastic surgery is particular in a wide range of medical tourism services. Residents of many European countries come to the Czech Republic to correct their appearance. Specialists perform all types of operations: mammoplasty (reduction or enlargement of the breast), rhinoplasty (treatment of apnea, changing the shape of the nose), etc.

Oncology Treatment in Czech Hospitals

In the surgical removal of the tumor, Czech oncologists turn to robotic installations. Da Vinci SP system – the latest version of the robot surgeon. Complex operations are performed through a small incision.

New radiotherapy options are available in cancer hospitals in Czech Republic:

• Brachytherapy – the technique of local irradiation of the tumor;
• Tomotherapy – the irradiation process is performed in a spiral, while the beams of rays are focused on the tumor area.
• Proton therapy – the safest method of irradiation since protons are distributed as accurately as possible in the tumor area (a "Pencil Beam Scanning").

Doctors also practice:

• Immunotherapy – a unique cancer treatment in Czech Republic that involves the use of specialized drugs. Their action is aimed at stimulating the patient's immune system.
• Dendritic cell therapy and CAR-T therapy treat severe oncologies, such as lymphoma.

Neurosurgery Treatment in Czech Hospitals

Czech neurosurgeons perform complex and detailed operations on the brain and spinal cord. Great success has been achieved in the treatment:

• hydrocephalus,
• Alzheimer's disease,
• Parkinson's disease,
• malignant neoplasms of the brain.

The use of stem cells made it possible to overcome severe lesions of the brain and spinal cord. Before the skill of Czech neurosurgeons, complex cerebrovascular diseases (vascular malformations, cerebral aneurysms, etc.) receded.

Deep brain stimulation improves the quality of life in multiple sclerosis. It eliminates chronic tremors and spontaneous movements, reduces the number of medications, and even returns the patient to professional activity.

Cardiology Treatment in Czech Hospitals

Significant achievements in cardiac surgery mark the Czech Republic: in 1984, a heart transplant was successfully performed here. In 2013, Czech doctors performed the world's first mitral valve replacement surgery without opening the chest.

Cardiovascular surgery hospitals in Czech Republic focus on performing heart transplantation and aorta reconstruction. The number of operated elderly patients and patients with risk factors is growing. Hospitals in Czech Republic have also long been a priority in the surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, coronary heart disease, acquired heart defects, and the reconstruction of large vessels.

Orthopedics in Czech Hospitals

Treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal system pathologies in children and adults have developed in hospitals in Czech Republic. Thanks to the extensive clinical experience of doctors and the reasonable cost of endoprostheses, the Czech Republic is the leader in Europe in performing joint replacement operations.

The Central European Educational Center for Arthroscopy was founded in the hospital of Czech Budejovice. This hospital was also the first in Central and Eastern Europe to use the most modern minimally invasive method for hip replacement surgery with artificial (with incisions of only 5-8 cm). This method allows the patient to return to normal activities, including sports.

Reproductology Treatment in Czech Hospitals

There are 43 hospitals in Czech Republic have the necessary certificates and equipment for treating infertility. The success of in vitro fertilization in the Czech Republic is about 46.8% for all age groups. For comparison, the global average is 33% for women under 35. Almost 16.000 IVF procedures are performed annually in the Czech Republic.

Diagnosis in the Czech Republic

Czech medicine is based on preventive diagnostics. In hospitals in Czech Republic, you can undergo a comprehensive check-up within one day. If the disease is complex and a serious operation is to be performed, it may take 2-3 days.

Top-rated among foreign patients are the Base Check-Up programs and comprehensive examinations in the all-inclusive format. Express diagnostics in hospitals in Czech Republic include:

• detailed interviews and therapeutic studies;
• study of all body systems;
• an electrocardiogram;
• ultrasound scanning;
• X-ray examination of the heart and lungs;
• tomography of organs.

Also, check-up programs at hospitals in Czech Republic include general and detailed blood and urine tests, hormonal diagnostics, liver tests, and tests for cancer markers.

The average cost of treatment in the Czech Republic

Although the Czech Republic belongs to Western Europe, medical tourism prices are significantly lower here. The percentage of savings varies depending on the chosen procedure. For example, residents of the UK save up to 60% of the cost of cosmetic surgery. In treating obesity (bariatric surgery), patients from the USA who perform surgery at home pay an average of $20.000. In the Czech Republic, the same procedure costs an average of $7.000.

Several factors affect the price of treatment in Czech Republic:

• the nature of the disease;
• form of medical institution – public or private;
• clinic location;
• treatment regimen in hospitals in Czech Republic;
• additional medical tourism services (for example, an interpreter service).

The complex diagnostic and treatment measures in the Czech Republic will influence the final cost if the patient needs rehabilitation, the length of stay in the clinic, and payment for a set of services increases. The total budget should include the fees of flight, transfer, and visa (if necessary).

Medical tourism in the Czech Republic

With its numerous spa resorts, the Czech Republic has been attracting foreigners for several centuries who come here to treat chronic diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, etc. Recently, the Czech Republic has become one of Europe's leading medical tourism destinations. A convenient geographical location, high-quality medicine, and competitive prices help the country to realize its enormous potential in this area.

Advantages of medical tourism in the Czech Republic:

• High level of medicine.
• Modern technologies, online consultations, and "Second Opinion" programs.
• Highly qualified specialists. Czech doctors’ names can often see in American scientific journals.
• English-speaking personnel of Czech hospitals.
• Optimal price-quality ratio.
• Comprehensive solutions for treatment and rehabilitation.

Most popular destinations for medical care in Czech hospitals

According to the International Journal of Medical Tourism (IMTJ), the country took 16th place in the ranking of the best destinations (46 countries in total) for 2020-2021. In our portal, we offer a top list of the best hospitals in Czech Republic based on the reviews of visitors.

Developed tourist infrastructure, high-quality treatment, excellent training of Czech doctors, and low prices for medical tourism procedures attract thousands of residents of Western Europe and America every year.

Prague

It is one of the most beautiful corners of old Europe. In Prague, you can admire historical monuments, beautiful architecture, and numerous masterpieces of fine art. The most popular areas of medical tourism are cosmetic surgery, oncology, infertility treatment, bariatric surgery, cardiology, and ophthalmology.

• Academic Hospital Na Homolce. The clinic offers treatment in all medical areas, but the priority departments are neurosurgical and cardiovascular.
• Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Clinic Malvazinky. The Joint Commission accredits the clinic on Accreditation (SAK). In addition, it traditionally leads the ranking of the most prosperous hospitals in Czech Republic.
• Proton Therapy Centre. More than 6.000 people from 50 countries have visited the hospital. The center provides high-quality treatment under international standards.
• University Hospital Motol. The flagship of hospitals in Czech Republic has been well-known in all of Eastern Europe since 1971. The most popular areas are oncology, pediatric cardiology, transplantology, orthopedics, reproduction, etc.
• General University Hospital. A multidisciplinary medical institution, thanks to which it can receive patients with various diagnoses, including complex and combined, affecting several medical areas at once.
• University Hospital Bulovka. The University Clinic is the best place to go with heart disease or severe injuries. It treats conditions related to neurology and psychiatry.

Brno

It is the second city in terms of population and importance for a country with a population of about 370 thousand. At the same time, it is the administrative and industrial center of the Moravian Region, which is why it is sometimes called the "Czech Manchester."

• University Hospital Brno. One of the largest in the Czech Republic, the hospital can accept 2.161 patients for inpatient treatment. The clinic operates under the strict supervision of the Ministry of Health.

Velke Mezirici

According to local stories, the legendary city of Marburg, which the king of the Huns Attila burned, previously stood on the site of Velke Mezirici. Most often, medical tourists turn to specialists in bariatrics and the treatment of obesity, joint replacement, and prostate cancer surgery.

• St.Zdislavy Hospital Velke Mezirici. The center provides a wide range of minimally invasive operations using the latest generation da Vinci robotic system. It is the largest robotics center in the country and one of the biggest centers of medical tourism in Europe. During the year, more than 400 prostate removal operations and 350 stomach reduction operations are performed here.

Pilsen

Ancient buildings are decorated with frescoes, unusual fountains, majestic sculptures, and sensitive medical care.

• University Hospital Pilsen. The clinic's medical staff closely cooperates with doctors from other clinics, exchanges experience, and participates in conferences to study the most effective methods of treating certain diseases. As a result, the center provides a wide range of high-quality diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation medical tourism services.

Karlovy Vary

One of the most famous treatment centers in Czech Republic is located in the west of Bohemia. There are about 130 medical institutions in the city. Patients with gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders, functions of the endocrine glands, and liver and biliary tract problems are treated here. Here the famous Karlovy Vary salt evaporates, also used in cosmetology. The resort's popularity in medical tourism also brings the famous herbal liqueur "Beherovka," which is jokingly called another source of health.

Marianske Lazne

This resort is nestled in a picturesque valley framed by mountains and forests. It is also called the "Green Pearl" of the Czech Republic. The resort is recommended to be visited by people suffering from diseases of the urinary system; musculoskeletal system; digestive system; nervous system; caused by metabolic disorders; dermatitis.

Everything you need to know for treatment in Czech hospitals

The state is part of the Schengen area, so the general EU procedures regulate the rules of entry into its territory. European Union residents are free to visit the Czech Republic. Citizens of "third countries" are subject to their restrictions for crossing Czech borders. Citizens of some CIS countries need to obtain a Schengen visa for medical tourism.

What about insurance?

The conditions of medical insurance for residents of the European Union and citizens of third countries in the Czech Republic are different. For the former, everything is more accessible. When visiting a doctor, they can show the classic insurance card.

A classic insurance policy is enough for medical tourism for a few days or weeks. However, for long-term residence in the Czech Republic, comprehensive medical insurance is required for foreigners.

Residents of the so-called third countries can take out insurance on their own. That may be classic tourist insurance, which can be issued before leaving your country.

A few more nuances of medical tourism

Many state hospitals in Czech Republic, especially in large cities, have so-called departments for foreigners, where you can get advice or hire an interpreter. If the patient does not have insurance, he must present a passport and prove their solvency before seeing a doctor.

One more nuance: all patients must pay a registration fee upon admission to the clinic, regardless of their condition. The same fee is added to the cost of staying in hospitals in Czech Republic daily, irrespective of the availability of an insurance policy.

Transport issue

Due to its situation in the heart of old Europe, the Czech Republic is accessible by car and train. In addition, an extensive road and railway network connects Prague and other Czech cities with Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

Prague Airport has a unique network of connections with cities in Europe and around the world. Several dozen of the largest cities in the world have direct flights to Prague.

How can AiroMedical help me?

AiroMedical is an international Internet portal to get information about the world's leading clinics and book a medical program. We help you choose check-ups and booking a full range of treatment programs in Czech Republic, from conservative therapy to innovative surgery.

AiroMedical is an opportunity to compare the qualifications of specialists, treatment methods, and the cost of medical care in different clinics. We organize treatment trips abroad, help choose hospitals in Czech Republic, and support medical travelers. The patient chooses the most suitable option for him independently or after consulting his doctor. With AiroMedical, you can undergo treatment more accessible, faster, and cheaper.

Please get in touch with us to find out the current conditions for medical tourism to the Czech Republic. Our doctor will help you organize treatment depending on your preferences and medical indications. We will take care of all organizational issues so you can get treatment or relax in this picturesque country without unnecessary hassle.