U.S. Citizen Services

Information Regarding Medical Services in Prague

DISCLAIMER: This list is provided solely as information for American citizens.  The American Embassy Prague does not recommend any persons or firms listed below, nor does it accept responsibility for their professional ability or integrity.

While significant differences do exist between American and Czech medical systems, many outdated misconceptions and fears about post-communist medical systems may still linger. A run-down of some of the most important attributes are listed below:

• The Czech medical system is no longer entirely socialized. It is partially government-run and partially private, and there are a number of Western trained doctors now operating in Prague. Their numbers can be found in the referrals part of this section.
• While medical facilities may seem worn and outdated to the average American, the staff does maintain a standard of cleanliness (for example, many require that you wear disposable shoe coverings in the hospitals.)
• The Czech philosophy of medical care and the doctor-patient relationship tend to be more European in approach. That is, the doctor will be less likely to share information about the patient’s condition with the patient than is generally the case in the U.S.  This is a cultural difference and not a deficiency in medical care.
• The Czech medical system is very segmented. There is no one central emergency room, and so emergencies are often sent to the facility which treats the specific medical condition (i.e., broken noses are sent to the ear, nose and throat facility rather than one central emergency room.) Also, it is not uncommon to find closed doors (where you would knock or ring for service) rather than an open nursing station.

1. PAYMENTS

Foreigners who use Czech medical facilities are expected to pay for their care. The American Embassy Prague cannot guarantee payment or otherwise take financial responsibility for the medical care of private citizens. MEDICARE does not cover overseas treatment. Credit cards may not be accepted and insurance cards are usually not accepted in lieu of payment.

Generally, patients who have overseas insurance coverage should expect to pay the bill and then seek reimbursement from their insurance company. Contact your health insurance company directly to find out if your policy includes overseas coverage.

2. EMERGENCY CARE

Extreme cases (and only extreme cases) in Prague and Brno should be dealt with by calling Zachranná Služba (“emergency services”) by dialing 112, and specify that a physician is needed.

The emergency services physician generally will send the patient by ambulance to the hospital best equipped to deal with the specific type of emergency, all of which are listed at the end of this section. Likewise, if the injury was the result of an attack or other criminal case, the patient will be sent to the police hospital.  A U.S. citizen may not be sent a patient to Na Homolce even if the patient is a foreigner. However, if warranted, a patient can always request to be moved after their condition has stabilized. Charges will be incurred for services, including transportation to the health care facilities.
This list does not include all medical facilities/providers in Prague. The ones included here do cater to foreigners and speak at least some English.

Prague:          
Ambulance        112

The following locations also have emergency care:

Motol Hospital           24-Hour center for Foreigners
U Uvalu 84                                                            224-433-681  Adults
Prague 5                                                               224-433-690 Children 
24-hour Trauma facility
Accepts VISA, Mastercard
24-Hour care for major and minor trauma, illness. Have surgery capability, lab and other
diagnostic testing equipment, including CT and MRI. There is an English speaking person available 24-hour/day

Na Homolce Hospital                                              257-272-146 Adults (0730-1600 hrs)
Roentgenova 2, Prague 5                                       257-272-025 Kids (0730-1600 hrs)
Foreigner’s clinic                                                   257-272-174 Foreigners clinic
                                                                             (0730-1600 hours only)
NO 24-hour emergency. NOT for major trauma There may be English speaker only during office hours.
Accepts VISA, Mastercard

Central Military Hospital
U vojenske Nemocnice 1200                                  220-208-111
Prague 6                                                           220-202-701
24-hour emergency facility. Trauma center. Has isolation unit.

Fakultní Nemocnice Královské Vinohrady   
Šrobárova 50, Prague 10                                       267-161-111
Any injury, but accepts only cash.
Has a burn unit. May not speak English

Fakultní Nemocnice Bulovka                                   266-081-111  
Budínova 2, Prague 8
Cardiac problems, trauma, orthopedic problems
Accepts payment by VISA, and has an ATM that accepts Cirrus, Mastercard,
and American Express.

Thomayer Hospital (IKEM)
Videnska 1958                                                     261-081-111
Krc, Prague 4                                                      261-082-570
Cardiac. Trauma.
Nursing staff may NOT speak English

Dental Emergencies:

American Dental Center                                          221-181-121
V Celnici 4
Stara Celnice Bldg. 
1st floor                            24-hour emergency        602-178-101
Prague 1

Millennium Dental Care                                            221-033-405
V Celnici 10
Prague 1
Website: www.mdc.cz
open 0800-2000 hours M-F

European Dental Center                                         224-228-984
Vaclavske Nam. 33                                               224-228-994
Prague 1
Website: www.Edc@quick.cz
0900-2000 hours M-F 

Brno   
    
Ambulance      112

Research Institute of Traumatology                          545 538 111
(Ústav Traumatologický)
Ponavká 8

Faculty Children Hospital                                        545 122 111
(Fakultní Dětská Nemocnice) 
Černopolní 9

First Aid, Dental, Eye Emergencies                           545 541 111
Bratislavská 2

3. NON-EMERGENCY/MINOR EMERGENCY CARE

In Prague, except in the case of a serious emergency or major injury, all foreigners seeking medical care can go to the Na Homolce hospital at Roentgenova 2 in Prague 5. 

Na Homolce                                                   257-272-146  Adults (0730-1600 M-F)
Roentgenova 2, Prague 5                                 257-272-025  Kids (0730-1600 M-F)
Foreigner’s clinic    
Offers medical services to the general public, as well as the diplomatic community. It offers a wide range of services comparable to western standards. There are members of the staff who speak English.  Emergency service for foreigners, 24 hours a day/7 days a week, although access to ER after hours maybe problematic. English-speaking doctors and staff, pediatricians, surgeons, dentists, house calls, primary care clinic for foreigners with bilingual receptionists, major credit cards are accepted.  

PolyClinic Narodni                                            222-075-120
Narodní třida 9, Prague 1                                  224-215-059
Dr. Martin Stransky-American Board Certified Neuology/Internal Medicine
Dr. Milan Sasek- American Board Certified  Emergency Medicine
After hours                                                    606-461-628
Website: www.poliklinika.narodni.cz
Run by US Board Certified Physicians. Have a variety of specialists available, plus lab
And physical therapy. Accepts major credit cards.

UNICARE                                                         235-356-553
Dr. Julia Concha (Pediatrician) 24-hour emergency  602-201-040
Na Dlouhem lanu 11, Prague 6
weekends                                                        267-750-425

24 hour on-call service                           601-201-040 or 602-201-040
Open 0800-2000 M-F
0900-1300 Saturdays
Provides English speaking physicians in a variety of specialities. Will arrange other tests,
Exams, hospitalization as needed. Accepts major credit cards.

Canadian Medical Center                                     235-360-133
After-hours pediatrician                                      602-335-670
After-hour adult                                                603-220-207
Website: www.cmc.praha.cz                               602-644-581
Veleslaviska 1, Prague 6
Provides English speaking Czech doctors, English speaking nurses, primary health care to people of all ages, referral to specialists as required, 24-hour on call service, on site pharmacy. Major credit cards accepted..

MEDISCAN 
Stare Mesto
V Celnici 5                                                        221-775-111
Prague 1                                                          221-775-112
After hours emergency doctor on call                    603-510-828
Many specialists who speak English. Full lab facilities. Most diagnostic equipment located at Chodov. Accessible by Metro.
Open 0700-2000 hours Monday-Friday

MEDICSAN 
Chodov
Sustova 1930                                                    267-090-811
Prague 11                                                         267-090-813
After hours emergency doctor on call                     603-510-828
See note above.
Many diagnostic facilities located here, including MRI, CT, ultrasound, mammography,
Bone density testing. Major credit cards accepted. Accessible by Metro.

Health Center Prague                                          224-220-040
Poliklinika                                                          224-220-037
Vodickova 28, Prague 1
Emergencies                                                      603 433 833
                                                                      603 481 361
English language medical assistance providing 24-hour on call service, registered nurses from the US and EU, major credit cards accepted except American Express.

Ophthalmologist

Dr. Karásek                                                       220-513-713
Zuzena 866                                                       220-510-636    
Prague 6
Website: www.eyedoctor.cz

Dr. Katerina Podzimkova                                     261-220-558
Na Pankraci 57
Prague 4

Na Homolce Opthalmology Dept.                           257-273-005
Foreigners Dept.
Roentgenova 2
Prague 5

Dental Care

See also under dental emergencies

Dr. Richard Dvorak                                             241-484-722
Baarova 13
Prague 4
 
Dr. David Urie                                                    261-711-062
Paprskova 2
Krc, Prague 2                     home/emergencies      244-913-106

In Brno, medical treatment can be obtained at the Policlinic at Zahradnikova 2/4, telephone: 541 552 111

4. PHARMACIES 

The following pharmacies offer 24 hour service:

Prague 1                         
Palackeho 5                   224-946-982

Prague 2  
Belgická 37                    222-513-396
Vinohrady 
(Metro: Nám. Míru)  

Prague 4                        
Antala Staska 80            261-262-881
Open Monday-Saturday 0700-2000       

Prague 5  
Štefáníkova 6                257-320-194
Smíchov (Metro: Andel)  

Prague 6                        
Pod Marjankou 12           233-350-902

Dejvicka 29                   224-323-786

Prague 8  
Heydukova 10                266-310-899

Prague 12  
Soukalova 3355              241-770-498
Modrany

5. MEDICAL AIR EVACUATION

The first reaction of many people who are hospitalized overseas is to start talking about air medical evacuation to the U.S. or somewhere else. This is certainly possible, but almost no one realizes how expensive or complicated it can be. Depending on where the patient is going, and what kind of in-flight medical care is needed, prices can range from $20,000 to $40,000 or more to get back to the United States. In addition, no evacuation service will take a patient whose condition has not stabilized.

After a patient is deemed healthy enough to travel, the most economical and frequently utilized method for going back to the U.S. is via a regular commercial flight. You usually have to pay for four first class seats (or 6-7 coach seats) to accommodate a stretcher and the people accompanying the patient. Also, most airlines will require that their own physician confirm that the person is fit to travel. Lufthansa has experience in taking stretcher cases to the U.S. from Prague. You should contact the airlines directly to explore costs and requirements.

Some health insurance companies’ policies include medical evacuations as part of their coverage, although they may contract with only a specific evacuation company. Contact your specific health insurance company to find out if their policy includes medical evacuation.

The following is a list of some private medical evacuation companies in this area:

SOS International
Vaclavske Namesti 62
Prague 1                Administration               222-111-111
                                                 FAX:      222-111-112
                 Alarm center (24-hour)              222-111-155
                                                 FAX       222-111-156

Ambulance Meditrans                                  220 113 301-2
Ruzyne Airport
Mikuleckého 1310
Prague 4 12412  
Contact: Dr. Chocholous                              244 471 072
                                                        fax: 244 472 910
 
Lufthansa                                                 234 008 234
Ruzyne Airport
Prague 6                                            fax:  234 008 295
Lufthansa provides stretcher/medical escort services for passengers. The airline requires a  “Fitness for Air Travel” form to be completed by a local physician, in order for Lufthansa’s own medical department in Frankfurt to give a clearance to the patient/passenger.   No.s in Frankfurt:   Lufthansa medevac   0049-561-9933-7020
              Lufthansa medical escort 0049-221-982-2333

Air Ambulance       (800) 327-1966

American Express Global Assist     (301) 214-8228
Medical evacuation is covered for American Express platinum cardholders with travel insurance. Other policies for travel insurance are also sold through U.S. Assist.