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The healthcare system in Slovakia is overseen by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic and provides healthcare services through a network of public and private healthcare providers.
Healthcare is primarily delivered through general practitioners (GPs), who provide primary healthcare and act as the first point of contact for most medical concerns. Patients are generally free to choose their GP. If necessary, the GP will refer the patient to an appropriate medical specialist or recommend further examinations. Access to specialist care through a GP referral is a common and well-established practice in Slovakia.
In addition to general practitioners, healthcare services are provided by:
- specialist outpatient clinics (e.g. gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, cardiologists),
- hospitals, providing inpatient and specialised care,
- emergency departments and emergency medical services, and
- pharmacies, where prescription and over-the-counter medicines are available.
Healthcare services are available through both public and private providers. Some specialists may require a referral from a general practitioner, while others accept patients without one. Waiting times may vary depending on the type of provider and the medical specialty.
The costs of healthcare depend on your health insurance coverage. If you are covered by Slovak public health insurance, another public health insurance scheme within the EU/EEA/Switzerland, or private health insurance, the extent of reimbursement depends on the conditions of your insurance policy. If you are not covered by any health insurance, you are generally required to pay the full cost of the healthcare provided, as a self-payer.
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Health insurance is mandatory for everyone staying in Slovakia. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be covered by:
- Slovak public health insurance,
- public health insurance in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland (using the European Health Insurance Card – EHIC), or
- private health insurance.
The type of health insurance applicable to you depends on your residence status, employment status and the purpose of your stay.The following categories should be distinguished:
- Health insurance of students and PhD students
- Health insurance of employees
- Health insurance of researchers and university teachers without an employment contract
- Public health insurance for scholarship holders
If you are insured in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland, you may use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive medically necessary healthcare during a temporary stay in Slovakia, in accordance with the applicable regulations.
For a detailed overview and information, please refer to the relevant section.
Certain international scholarship holders may be entitled to Slovak public health insurance, with the Slovak Republic acting as the payer of the insurance.
This applies to eligible scholarship holders participating in government-approved scholarship programmes, programmes arising from international agreements, or European Union programmes, provided they meet the conditions laid down by the Health Insurance Act.
As eligibility depends on the type of scholarship programme and your individual circumstances, we recommend referring to the subsection "Public health insurance for scholarship holders" in the Health Insurance section for detailed information on:
- eligibility criteria,
- the registration procedure, and
- the current list of eligible scholarship programmes.
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Healthcare in Slovakia is provided through a network of general practitioners, specialists, hospitals, emergency services and pharmacies. Patients are generally free to choose their healthcare provider, although some specialists may require a referral from a general practitioner.
The following sections explain how to access the different types of healthcare services available in Slovakia.
A general practitioner (GP) is usually the first point of contact for non-emergency healthcare in Slovakia. GPs provide primary healthcare, carry out preventive examinations, diagnose and treat common illnesses, issue prescriptions and medical certificates, and, if necessary, refer patients to a medical specialist for further examination or treatment.
Patients are generally free to choose their GP. It is advisable to register with a GP soon after your arrival in Slovakia, especially if you are planning a longer stay.
If specialised care is required, your GP may refer you to an appropriate specialist. Some specialists require a referral from a GP, while others accept patients without one.
General practitioners and specialists usually provide healthcare in private practices, medical centres (polyclinics) or hospitals.
If you are looking for an English-speaking doctor, you may:
- contact your health insurance company, which can help you find contracted healthcare providers,
- ask your host institution or EURAXESS centre for recommendations, or
- search online healthcare provider directories.
Dental care in Slovakia is provided by both public and private dental practices. Most dentists work in private practices or medical centres, and patients are generally free to choose their dentist.
It is advisable to register with a dentist soon after your arrival, especially if you plan to stay in Slovakia for a longer period. Appointments usually need to be booked in advance, except in urgent cases.
Routine dental care is covered to varying extents depending on your health insurance coverage and the type of treatment provided. Some procedures may require an additional patient co-payment.
If you are looking for an English-speaking dentist, you may:
- contact your health insurance company for a list of contracted dentists,
- ask your host institution or EURAXESS centre for recommendations, or
- search online healthcare provider directories.
Emergency dental care is available outside regular opening hours through designated emergency dental services ("dental emergency service"), which operate according to regional schedules.
Hospitals in Slovakia provide inpatient care, specialised outpatient services, diagnostic examinations, surgical procedures and emergency medical care. They are located throughout the country, with larger hospitals and university hospitals offering a wider range of specialised services.
Patients are usually referred to a hospital by their general practitioner or a medical specialist, although emergency care is available without a referral.
Please note that a polyclinic (poliklinika) is not a hospital. Polyclinics primarily provide outpatient healthcare services, including general practitioners, specialists and diagnostic facilities.
To find a hospital or other healthcare provider near you, you can:
- contact your health insurance company for a list of contracted providers;
- search online using map for "hospital" search OR
- see the List of medical facilities and doctors (available in Slovak language only)
If you require urgent medical assistance, call:
- 155 – Emergency Medical Service (ambulance)
- 112 – European emergency number (available throughout the EU)
Operators can dispatch an ambulance and, if necessary, coordinate with the police (158) or fire and rescue services (150)
Hospitals provide 24-hour emergency medical care through their emergency departments. In urgent situations, you may go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department or call an ambulance if immediate medical assistance is required.
For non-life-threatening conditions outside your doctor's opening hours, you may also visit an out-of-hours medical service (urgent care), which is available at designated healthcare facilities.
A list of emergency medical care providers in Slovakia is available here (in Slovak language only).
Medicines can be purchased only at pharmacies (lekáreň), which are located throughout Slovakia. Pharmacies are usually marked with a green cross and offer both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, as well as a range of healthcare and medical products.
Certain medicines are available only on prescription, which must be issued by a licensed physician. Other medicines can be purchased without a prescription following consultation with a pharmacist.
Outside regular opening hours, access to medicines is provided through designated on-duty pharmacies (pharmacy emergency service). The pharmacy on duty varies by region and date. Information about the nearest on-duty pharmacy is usually displayed at the entrance to every pharmacy or available online.
Please, see the list of pharmacies in Slovakia here (available in Slovak language only).