Slovakia
In emergencies, call 112 or 155 (ambulance) for help.
Accessing care in Slovakia
With a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medically necessary treatment during a temporary stay in Slovakia. Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait until you return home. You may need such treatment, for example, in the event of a sudden illness or an accident.
You can also receive treatment for pregnancy, childbirth, or chronic conditions. If you have a medical condition that requires regular treatment during your stay abroad, contact a healthcare provider in advance to make the necessary arrangements for your care.
The European Health Insurance Card does not guarantee free treatment; you will pay the same cost for healthcare as local residents. We recommend carrying additional copies of your card with you. If you do not have a European Health Insurance Card, or if it is not accepted, you will have to pay for the treatment yourself. You can then apply for reimbursement from Kela.
You can choose a healthcare provider from public and private providers that have a contract with one of the following health insurance companies (as most of them do):
You can choose your place of treatment freely, provided it has an agreement with one of these companies. The companies will only reimburse treatment provided by facilities that have an contract with them. Contact information for contracted healthcare providers is available from the health insurance companies. When you present your European Health Insurance Card at the place of treatment, you can usually receive care without needing to register with a health insurance company in advance.
If the healthcare provider has a contract with one of the health insurance companies, the logo and name of that insurance company are usually displayed in the waiting room or on the door to the doctor’s office. If you are unsure about the provider’s contracting status, you should ask for this information before receiving treatment.
Slovakia also has fully private healthcare providers that do not have a contract with any health insurance company. If you seek treatment from such a provider, you will have to pay the full cost yourself.
Notice to travellers in the mountain regions of Slovakia
Rescue, first aid and medical transport costs in the mountain regions of Slovakia are not covered by public healthcare. Travellers must pay for these services themselves. The expenses can be substantial — potentially thousands of euros — so it is highly recommended to take out separate private insurance when travelling in these areas.
Sudden illness in Slovakia
Doctor
Make an appointment with a general practitioner who has an agreement with a Slovakian health insurance company. At the reception, present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. You must also state which health insurance company you choose and how long you will stay in Slovakia. This entitles you to receive treatment free of charge. Seeing a specialist requires a referral from a general practitioner, and in such cases, the treatment is also free.
Dentist
You can see a dentist without a referral. Essential dental treatment is available free of charge from a contracted dentist. Health insurance companies can provide information about these dentists. The payment procedure is similar to that of a general practitioner. Free treatment includes the use of basic materials. The dentist is responsible for informing you in advance if more expensive materials are to be used. In such cases, you must pay the difference between the cost of the basic and the more expensive materials. Prices may vary between dentists.
Medication
You can collect prescribed medicines from any pharmacy. Present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. The amount you need to pay depends on the medicine. In Slovakia, prescriptions are valid for seven days.
Hospital treatment
A doctor’s referral is required for hospital treatment. At the hospital, present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. If you do not have the card, you can request a temporary replacement certificate to be sent to the hospital by one of the Slovakian health insurance companies listed above. If the patient’s state of health prevents them from choosing an insurance company, the hospital will make the choice on their behalf. Once the necessary documents have been provided, the treatment and medicines will be free of charge.
In an emergency, you can go directly to the emergency unit of a contract hospital. Present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. A small emergency fee will be charged unless the patient is admitted to the hospital. Please note that some complex treatments may be very expensive and are not necessarily reimbursed in Slovakia. You can apply for reimbursement from Kela afterwards.
Ambulance transport is free in emergencies.
If your illness requires special transport for your return to Finland, you will be responsible for covering the full costs. It is strongly recommended to take out travel insurance that includes coverage for these expenses.
Read also: Falling ill abroad.
Patient data
Remember to ensure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your healthcare provider with the patient records related to the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging the translation yourself.
Quality and safety of treatment in Slovakia
The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic, the Health Care Surveillance Authority, and medical associations supervise the quality of healthcare operations. More information about quality control and complaing procedures is available on the website of the Slovak National Contact Point.
You can use the search function on the Slovak National Contact Point’s website to check whether your chosen service provider is authorised to operate in the healthcare sector.
In the event of treatment injuries, the legislation and patient insurance of the country providing the treatment will apply. If you are dissatisfied with the care you received, you should first try to resolve the issue with the healthcare provider. The Slovak National Contact Point can assist you in finding the appropriate authority if you wish to file a complaint.
Healthcare system in Slovakia
In Slovakia, healthcare is provided under a system of public (mandatory) health insurance. In principle, everyone is entitled to free healthcare. However, in certain cases—such as dental care and medications—patients are legally required to pay part or all of the costs themselves.
There are three health insurance companies in the Slovak Republic. All of them are joint-stock companies that manage public funds and operate throughout the country. Everyone has the right to choose their health insurance company freely.
The Slovak healthcare system includes both public and private healthcare services. Each healthcare sector is served by both public and private providers, and most of them have contracts with the health insurance companies.
Useful websites
If you are planning to travel to Slovakia to use healthcare services, we recommend reading the general information about seeking treatment abroad available on our website. For specific questions about healthcare in Slovakia, please contact the Slovak National Contact Point.
Information about healthcare is available in English on the websites of Slovak National Contact Point and the National Health Information Center (Národné centrum zdravotníckych informácií).
The website Zzz.sk (in Slovak) provides a list of hospitals in the country. It also features a search function that allows you to look up for doctors, ambulance services, opticians, and other healthcare providers.