Medicine and health in Slovakia

There are a lot of doctors in Slovakia, but the system has its own logic that you need to get used to. If you have no experience of visiting Slovak doctors, here's what you need to know.

Family doctor is the first step

Here, you can't just go to any specialist. First, you choose a family doctor (for adults) or a pediatrician (for children). This is your main contact person in the system:

• He or she keeps your medical history,
• writes prescriptions,
• and, most importantly, makes referrals to specialized doctors.

You can choose a doctor yourself in your neighborhood. The main thing is to check whether he or she has a contract with your insurance company (in the state system, this is a mandatory condition). If you've just moved, ask your neighbors or go to the zzz.sk portal, where you can search for doctors by city and specialization.

How to make an appointment

In most cases, an appointment is made by phone. You call the registry office, and they set a date and time for you. In big cities, there are often online forms on clinic websites or even mobile apps.

If you go to a private clinic, you can usually make an appointment directly on the website, without a referral from your family doctor. In the public system, you will almost never get to see a specialist without a referral (exceptions: dentist, gynecologist, psychiatrist).

Language of communication

Most doctors in public institutions speak Slovak; only junior specialists or in large cities can speak English. Ukrainian or Russian is sometimes spoken by doctors from the eastern regions of the country, but it is better not to count on it. If you have a language barrier, you should take an interpreter or prepare basic phrases in advance.

Do I need a referral?

Yes, in the state system, a referral from a family doctor is required for most specialists. Without it, the service will be paid even for those who are insured. In private clinics, you can visit without a referral, but the consultation will cost from 30 to 80 euros, depending on the specialist.

Electronic services

Slovakia has an eHealth system:

• prescriptions are issued electronically,
• doctors can see the medical history,
• patients can track some of their data online.

It's convenient: you don't need to carry paper prescriptions with you - you just need to show your patient card (insurance card) at the pharmacy.

Useful tips for Ukrainians

• If you have just received temporary protection, you must first register in the system (get a patient card). Without this, the doctor will not be able to enter you into the database.
• In case of emergency (e.g., injury or severe pain), you can go directly to the emergency department or call 112. They will not require a referral.
• It is sometimes difficult to make an appointment with a doctor - the queues are long. If you need it faster, you should go to a private clinic.

How to avoid problems

The biggest problem for foreigners is being denied an appointment because they don't have valid insurance. Without a policy, you will either not be enrolled or will be admitted only for full payment.

To avoid this, take care of insurance before you arrive. On Visit Ukraine, you can apply for a policy online, receive it immediately by email, and present it when you make an appointment with a doctor. This will save you time, nerves, and money.

👉 Get insurance for a trip to Slovakia

In Slovakia, it is virtually impossible to get care without health insurance. Even if a doctor agrees to see you, the bill may be so high that it's easier to buy a ticket home. Therefore, the question of “what kind of insurance to take out” becomes a key one even before crossing the border.

Public insurance

Slovakia has a state compulsory insurance system. If you are officially employed, studying, or have permanent residence, you are automatically enrolled in it. Contributions are paid from your salary (partly by the employer, partly by the employee), and self-employed people pay independently.

What you get in the state system:

• Consultations with a family doctor and specialists upon referral;
• examinations and tests, if prescribed by a doctor;
• hospitalization, surgery and postoperative care
• emergency care in any medical institution in the country.

However, it is important to know that dentistry, some medications, and cosmetic procedures are paid for separately, even if you are insured.

For Ukrainians with temporary protection

Children under the age of 18 are provided with almost the same benefits as Slovak citizens. Adults are entitled to the so-called “necessary care”: these include emergencies, treatment of serious illnesses, and preventive examinations.

If a Ukrainian is officially employed, he or she is covered by full state insurance and has access to the entire system.

Private insurance

Not everyone is eligible for a state policy. Tourists, students, and people who have just applied for a residence permit must take out private health insurance. This is also a prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit: the police will not issue a document without a valid policy.

Private insurance covers:

• emergency care (ambulance, hospital, surgeries in acute conditions)
• basic treatment of diseases that occur during the stay;
• sometimes additional options (medicines, dentistry, pregnancy, sports).

However, there are almost always exceptions: chronic diseases that occurred before the conclusion of the contract may not be covered.

Why you can't do without insurance

Imagine: a broken leg in Slovakia without a policy will cost 2000-3000 euros. A minor surgery will cost several thousand. And if you need intensive care or long-term treatment, the amount can become unaffordable. Insurance covers these risks and gives you confidence that you will not be left alone with a problem at a critical moment.

Apply for a policy at Visit Ukraine

The health insurance policy on Visit Ukraine meets the requirements of the Slovak migration authorities and is accepted by hospitals:

• online registration in 5 minutes, the document is sent immediately to your email;
• coverage of emergencies, hospitalization, surgeries and transportation;
• additional options: sports, repatriation;

👉 Apply for health insurance in Slovakia on Visit Ukraine

When Ukrainians arrive in Slovakia, the first question they ask after housing and work is healthcare. Is it possible to be treated for free or do you have to pay right away? The answer depends on your status in the country.

If you have temporary protection

Since the beginning of the war, Slovakia has opened access to medical services for Ukrainians. However, the conditions are different for children and adults.

• Children under 18 years of age receive an almost complete package like locals: from preventive examinations and vaccinations to hospitalization. This means that a child has access to a family doctor, pediatrician, dentist, and specialists upon referral.
• Adults are entitled to so-called “essential care”. This includes

- consultations with a family doctor,

- emergency care

- treatment of serious illnesses,

- basic preventive examinations. If a planned operation or complex treatment is required, it may not be covered.

But there is an important detail: if a Ukrainian with temporary protection is officially employed, he or she is transferred to full state insurance and receives the same rights as Slovaks.

If you are officially employed

Employment is the easiest way to have full access to the system. Your employer registers you in the public insurance system and you use most medical services for free: consultations, tests, hospitalization, surgeries. Only a few things (dentistry, cosmetology, certain medications) are paid for additionally.

If you are a student

Students from Ukraine who do not have temporary protection usually have to take out private insurance. It covers only emergencies and some basic services. Scheduled visits to doctors or complex treatment will have to be paid for on your own.

If you are a tourist

It's simple: without a private policy, you will be treated only in emergency cases, and you will be billed for the full amount. That's why insurance is a must for traveling even for a few days.

What is definitely free

1. Calling an ambulance in case of a life-threatening situation.

2. Hospitalization in case of emergency if you have temporary protection.

3. Treatment of children under 18 years of age within the state system.

4. Preventive examinations (upon referral).

What you have to pay for

• Medicines in the pharmacy (even if you have insurance, the patient usually pays part of the cost).
• Dental services for adults (fillings, dentures, orthodontics).
• Private clinics - here payment is always full, unless you have separate insurance.
• Additional examinations and procedures that are not included in the basic list of “necessary care”.

What documents do you need to show

To confirm your right to free healthcare, prepare

• an identity card (passport)
• a document on temporary protection;
• or a patient card from the state insurance company (if you are already registered).

In case of problems

Sometimes Ukrainians face denial of services or hospitals issue bills that they should not have. In such cases, it is important to know your rights and have legal support.

At Visit Ukraine, you can get legal advice online:

- help in resolving disputes with hospitals;

- advice on how to file a complaint;

- support in Ukrainian.

👉 Get legal assistance at Visit Ukraine

The first week in a new country is usually marked by simple questions: “Where is the nearest pharmacy?”, “Will I get an antibiotic without a prescription?”, “How do I pick up an e-prescription if I don't have the paper in hand?”.

Where to look for pharmacies and how the “on-call” pharmacy works

Pharmacies (lekáreň) are located in almost every district of cities. They are usually open until evening on weekdays; on weekends, they often have shorter hours. After 10 p.m. and at night, medicines are dispensed by on-call pharmacies (pohotovostná lekáreň) - there are one or two per city, and it is there that you go if your doctor has written a nighttime prescription or you need emergency medicines. Duty schedules are published on regional portals (e-VÚC) and in catalogs of medical institutions (convenient if you are on the road).

If you want to navigate the assortment or prices, use the official drug database (see below), and popular networks will tell you the availability of a particular drug on the spot.

Prescription or over-the-counter: a clear line

Slovakia strictly adheres to the rules of dispensing.

• Over-the-counter (OTC ) medicines include antipyretics, cold remedies, simple painkillers, basic allergy remedies, etc.
• Prescription drugs include antibiotics, hormonal drugs, most serious chronic diseases, and drugs with controlled substances (psychotropic/narcotic drugs).

Online sales are allowed only for registered pharmacies and only for OTC medicines; prescription drugs cannot be sold online in Slovakia. You can check that an online pharmacy is legal by checking the list on the website of the State Institute for Medicines Control (ŠÚKL) or by the presence of the European “green logo” on the pharmacy's website.

E-prescription: how to pick up medicines without a piece of paper

A doctor in Slovakia issues an electronic prescription (eRecept). To pick up your medication, you just need to show your ID card/patient card at the pharmacy - the system will automatically pull up your unissued prescriptions. A paper form is usually not required.

For chronic medications, a repeat eRecept is often issued. Important rules:

• the doctor can set the validity period of up to 365 days and the period between dispensations (e.g., every 30 days, maximum - once every 3 months);
• the first dispensing activates the prescription, so it must be done within the overall “short” validity of the single-use prescription (see below);
• then come to the pharmacy at selected periods without new visits to the doctor.

Prescription validity period: don't miss it

The countdown starts the day after the prescription is issued. The terms vary depending on the drug:

1 day - a prescription from a regular outpatient clinic/emergency service;

3 days - antibiotics/chemotherapy drugs;

5 days - drugs with narcotic/psychotropic substances;

7 days - standard prescription;

30 days - medical devices by “paper” referral.

The same rules apply to the first dispensing under a “repeat” eRecept.

How much do medicines cost and what is a “co-payment”?

In Slovakia, prices and reimbursement are determined by the categorization of medicines: the state publishes an official list every month, which shows what is covered by insurance and what part is paid by the patient (doplatok). For certain groups (pensioners, people with disabilities, etc.), there is a protective limit on the amount of co-payments per quarter - if this is exceeded, the insurance company refunds the difference.

It is useful to know that by law, a pharmacist must offer you a drug without a co-payment or with the lowest co-payment if there are interchangeable options (similar active ingredient/dose). This is not “health savings” but a normal practice of the system.

How to get a prescription if you are a Ukrainian

In the public sector, the route is the same for everyone: family doctor → (if necessary) referral to a specialist → prescription. If you do not yet have access to public insurance (tourist, student without a vehicle, waiting for a residence permit), you should visit a private doctor; the prescription will also be entered into eRecept, and you will pay the cost of the consultation/medication yourself, with the possibility of submitting a claim to your insurance company under the terms of the policy.

Will a Ukrainian prescription be accepted? The EU has a “cross-border prescription” rule, but the pharmacy always applies national deadlines and restrictions and must clearly identify the doctor/patient and the active substance. If the prescription is issued outside the EU (e.g. in Ukraine), in practice you will almost always have to get a Slovak prescription from a local doctor.

How to replace a Ukrainian brand: look for the active ingredient

Brand names differ from country to country, but the active ingredient (INN) is the same. Look for an equivalent on the ŠÚKL website - in the state database of registered drugs: you can filter by liečivo (active ingredient) and see the available forms/doses on the Slovak market. This is the most reliable way to find a generic without “Google maneuvers.”

Online ordering and reservations

Only OTC medicines are legally sold online - and only by registered “offline” pharmacies (check the ŠÚKL register). Some chains allow you to reserve your eRecept online and pick up the medicine ready to go at the pharmacy of your choice - convenient if the drug is in short supply. However, home delivery of prescription drugs is prohibited.

Importing your own medicines to Slovakia

For personal use, ordinary (non-prescription) medicines do not create problems, but

• prescription medic ines with narcotic/psychotropic substances in Schengen are only transported with a Schengen certificate under Article 75 of the Schengen Convention (issued by a doctor/competent authority in the country of departure; valid for up to 30 days and separately for each drug);
• postal shipments with medicines from outside the EU are often delayed by customs officers, especially if the drug is not registered in the Slovak Republic.

Small practical nuances that are easy to forget

• Language: in large cities, pharmacists often speak English; take a photo of the label/old prescription - it will help them find an analog faster.
• Has the e-prescription “expired”? A standard prescription “disappears” from the system in 7 days, an antibiotic in 3. Ask your doctor to rewrite it.
• Chronic patients: agree with your doctor on a repeat eRecept for 6-12 months to avoid running to get every pack.

Illness or injury always takes you by surprise, especially in a foreign country. In Slovakia, the emergency medical system operates according to the European standard: an ambulance will arrive in any case, but then everything depends on your status and insurance.

How to call an ambulance

In a critical situation, call 112, a single European emergency number. It connects you to a center where the dispatcher decides which service to send: ambulance, firefighters, or police. If you need an ambulance, you can call 155 directly.

Dispatchers usually speak Slovak, but you can get help in English at 112. If it is difficult to explain the symptoms, use simple words: “Ukraine, ambulance, hospital, help”. It is important to provide your address, surname, and contact phone number.

What happens after the call

An ambulance arrives (záchranná služba). They provide first aid on the spot and decide whether hospitalization is necessary. If the condition is life-threatening, you will be taken to the nearest hospital, regardless of whether you have insurance.

At the hospital, they first stabilize your condition, and then they will figure out how to pay for it. If you have public or private insurance, your treatment is covered. If not, the hospital has the right to bill you in full.

When help is free

• All life-threatening calls (e.g., heart attack, stroke, serious injury) are accepted and treated regardless of insurance status.

• For Ukrainians with temporary protection, emergency care is included in the list of “essential medical care” covered by the state.

• For children with temporary protection, emergency services are free of charge, just like for local children.

When you have to pay

If you come as a tourist without insurance, you will be billed in full. An ambulance call can cost about 80-150 €, a day in the hospital - from 200 €, and an operation - from several thousand.

If you are a student or are waiting for residence permits and do not have a policy, the situation is the same: you will pay the bill yourself. Even if you have insurance, you will sometimes be billed for additional services (for example, a separate room or certain examinations).

What documents to bring with you

To avoid misunderstandings in the hospital, always take

• passport or ID;
• insurance card (public or private);
• a document on temporary protection (if you have one);
• contact information (phone number of relatives or a person who can translate).

What to do if the hospital has issued a bill

It happens that even Ukrainians with temporary protection receive a bill for emergency care. In this case:

1. Do not panic and do not rush to pay immediately.

2. Ask for an explanation of the law on the basis of which the hospital has charged the amount.

3. If you are sure that you are entitled to free treatment, contact a lawyer.

Visit Ukraine has an online legal consultation that will help you:

• check whether the bill is justified;
• draw up an appeal or complaint;
• get advice on how to protect your rights in Slovakia.

👉 Get legal assistance on Visit Ukraine

Little tips that save time

• Save the numbers 112 and 155 in your phone.
• Learn a few basic phrases in Slovak: “Som z Ukrajiny” (I am from Ukraine), “Potrebujem lekára” (I need a doctor).
• If you have a chronic illness, carry a card or certificate with a diagnosis and a list of medications (preferably in English).

When planning a trip or move to Slovakia, it is better to think about healthcare in advance. There is a clear system here: without insurance, help will be given only in cases where there is a threat to life, but the bill can be huge. Therefore, prepare a few things at home and you will feel calm.

Documents to have at hand

• Passport or ID card.
• A document on temporary protection (if you have already been issued).
• Insurance policy (state card or private policy for tourists/students).
• Medical certificates on chronic diseases and a list of medications (preferably in English or Slovak).
• Childhood vaccinations and medical records for those traveling with children.

Mobile applications that will really help

1. Moje ezdravie - access to electronic prescriptions and test results.

2. Official portal slovensko.sk - public services, including medical services.

3. Google map/Mapy.cz - it is easy to find hospitals, pharmacies and first aid stations.

If you have a private policy, install the insurance company's app - it usually has a hotline, a list of clinics, and a direct call for help.

Useful contacts

112 is a single European emergency number.

155 - direct ambulance.

150 - fire department.

158 - police.

Pharmacies on call - look for them on the websites of local governments or just type in Google: “pohotovostná lekáreň + city name”.

What else to consider

• If you're traveling for a long time, take a supply of the medicines you need for the first few weeks until you get familiar with the local system.
• Learn a few basic phrases in Slovak: “Potrebujem lekára” (I need a doctor), “Som z Ukrajiny” (I am from Ukraine), “Bolesť” (pain).
• Lines can be long in public hospitals, especially for specialists. For a quicker appointment, you can go to a private clinic, but it always costs a fee.

Insurance and legal support from Visit Ukraine

To make your trip smooth, we recommend having two “lifelines”:

• Medical insurance - to cover expenses in case of emergencies, hospitalization, or surgery. You can apply for a policy on Visit Ukraine in 5 minutes online, and the document will be sent to your email immediately.
• Legal assistance - if a hospital refuses to admit you or issues an invoice, our lawyers will advise you on how to act.