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 practicing in Prague. While medical facilities may seem worn and out-dated to the average westerner, the staff does maintain a standard of cleanliness.
The Czech philosophy of medical care and the doctor-patient relationship tend to be more European in approach—the doctor is less likely to share information about the patient’s condition with the patient than in the west. This is a cultural difference, not a deficiency in medical care. You usually have to ask more questions in order to get information. The “doctor’s orders” are often not questioned in this culture, and alternative treatments are not always offered.
The Czech medical system is very segmented. There is not one central emergency room; thus emergencies are often sent to the facility that treats the specific medical condition. If an injury is the result of an attack or other criminal case, the patient would be sent to the police hospital. It is also common to find closed doors (where you would knock or ring for service) rather than an open nursing station.
Foreigners who use Czech medical facilities are expected to pay for their care. Credit cards may not be accepted, and insurance cards are not usually accepted in lieu of payment. Generally, patients who have overseas insurance overage should expect to pay the bill and then seek reimbursement from their insurance company.
These listings are provided for information only. It is not a recommendation of any particular service, but all of these doctors speak good English and cater to the international community. You can also find additional listings by specialty under Health Care in the Prague Yellow Pages (Zlaté stránky). In the very back, there is a listing in English under any heading you are looking for (not just medical). There are quite a few listings for clinics and doctors who speak English as well as other languages.
Canadian
Medical Care (235 360 133 or 724 300 301 (after hours
or on weekends)) Veleslavínská 1/30, Prague 6—A
family medical clinic that provides English-speaking Czech doctors
and primary health care to people of all ages. They refer to
specialists, including dental, and provide hospitalization assistance
as well as on-site pharmacy.
(cmc@cmc.praha.cz;
www.cmc.praha.cz)
Mediscan Diagnostic Center (267 090 811 or 267 090 814) Šustova 1930, Prague 4, (221 775 111) V Celnici 5, Prague 1. Specializes in diagnostic testing for a wide variety of medical needs inclucing cardiac, EKG, cat scan, etc. They also do routine physicals and have general practitioners available. (www.mediscan.cz)
Doctor
– Health Centre Prague (224 220 040 or 296 236
600) Vodickova 28, Prague 1, 3rd entrance, 2nd floor. All branches of
medicine. 24-hr on-call service. A bilingual staff and medical
services which include general practice, psychotherapy, internal
medicine, ophthalmology, dermatology and gynecology.
(info@doctor-prague.cz;
www.doctor-prague.cz)
European
Dental Center (224 228 984 or 224 228 994) Václavské
nám. 33, Prague 1—Provides a wide range of dental
services. Hours: Mon—Fri 8:30—20:00; Sat
9:00—13:00.
(edc@quick.cz;
www.edcdental.cz)
Polyclinic at Národni (222 075 120 or 222 075 120, 720 427 634 for emergency) Národni 9, Prague 1. A private medical clinic accommodating foreigners. It has 25 English-speaking general practitioners with a wide range of specializations. German and English-speaking doctors are also available. The clinic keeps a doctor on-call after hours. Foreign insurance is not accepted, but Visa and Euro-MasterCard are. (www.poliklinika.narodni.cz)
Unicare Medical Center (Appointments: 235 356 553; Emergency: 608 103 050, 602 210 040, or 608 103 040 for German) Nad Dlouhém Lanu 11, Prague 6. Offering family-oriented medical and dental care to the international community. (www.unicare.cz)
Katařina Bittmanová (222 724 592 or 603 551 393) Mánesova 64, Prague 2—Speaks German, English, Russian, and Hebrew)
Elena Figurová (224 220 037; 608 060 680 mobile) Vodickova 28, Prague 1
Jana Stejskalová (251 614 686) Prague Women’s Health Center, Centrum Lipa, Seydlerova 2451, Prague 5.
Fakultni
nemocnice v Motol (224 431 111 or 234 433 681 for
adults; 224 433 690 for children) V Úvalu 84, Prague 5—Large
blue building adjacent to Na Homolce hospital (white). While the
facilities are a little bit older than Na Homolce, many of the
doctors speak English and provide emergency and pediatric care.
They also have a foreigners’ information center located on the
bottom floor near the emergency room.
(www.fnmotol.cz)
Na
Homolce Hospital (Foreigners’ Clinic: 257 272 146
or 257 272 144) Roentgenova 2, Prague 5. Large white building
adjacent to Motol Hospital. Also known as Foreigners’ Hospital,
this facility has the reputation of being used by foreign dignitaries
in Prague. They have an English-speaking reception area, as
well as many bilingual doctors, including German, Russian, and
French. A well-stocked pharmacy is adjacent to the foreigners’
clinic. They employ general practitioners, surgeons, dermatologists,
and ear, nose, and throat doctors. They have a very good pediatric
department, headed by Dr. Petr Začek. If a specialist is needed,
one can be recommended and seen on the same day. Some foreign health
insurance and major credit cards are accepted, but one must often pay
cash at the time of treatment.
(www.homolka.cz/english/nnh.html)
Hygenic Stanice (296 336 700) Rytířská 12, Prague 1 (at the corner of Na Mustků) There are other locations throughout Prague listed in the Yellow Pages, but this is the main location. They provide a full range of all basic immunizations, as well as the whole range of “exotic” vaccinations for special travel needs. While you can get immunizations through your family physician or pediatrician, “Hygenic Stanice” are the suppliers, and you can go directly to them for immediate short-term needs, especially if you have to travel on short notice. Not everyone speaks English, but they do have some English-speaking doctors. Cost depends on the vaccination, but it is less than what you might pay through your regular doctor. Be aware that tick shots for tick-borne encephalitis are highly recommended.
Good pediatricians can be found through either the
hospitals or the clinics, including the Canadian Medical Clinic. One
pediatric clinic is the Pediatric
Health Centre (244 403 114; 24-hour care and home
visits—602 335 670) Ke Spofe 7, Prague 4. Hours: Monday
9:00—14:00; Tues/Wed 15:00—19:00; Th/Fri 9:00—14:00.
(btausova@pediatrie.cz)