Medical Tourism in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has emerged as a favorite European destination for medical tourism. Over the years, the country has not only been recognized for the affordable price of care, but also for the historically excellent level of medicine and the quality education of Czech specialists and medical staff alike. In addition, the country’s beauty, the inhabitants’ hospitality, the unique cultural heritage, local cuisine and indulgent Czech spas all together provide harmony, which is sought after by people from all over the world.
Choosing the Right Destination: Why Come to the Czech Republic?
When people are looking for a procedure provider, they must remember to focus both on the credentials of the doctor, as well as the country where the doctor and hospital are located. The country determines many things about the quality of care a patient will receive. Requirements regarding staffing levels, hospital equipment, hygiene procedures, reporting of errors, such as infection rates, education and experience for medical professionals and regulations for use of medicines all determine the standard of care received. Culturally, medical professionals in the Czech Republic have a global reputation for their strong work ethic when it comes to quality care. In addition, the country has a long medical tradition with history of medical research and high standards for medical personnel.
World-Renowned Doctors
With the selection of services in the Czech Republic and patients will be treated by well-trained and highly qualified doctors. The title Doctor of Medicine (Medicinae Universae Doctor – MUDr.) is awarded to graduates from the Medical Faculty of the Charles University after six years of study. All have long-term experience working in leading European hospitals. Training for Czech doctors is a continuous process as they participate in the latest developments in medicine, conduct research, publish in international medical journals and lecture colleagues on a world stage. When it comes to treating foreign patients, Czech medical professionals are friendly and doctors have experience in English, German and Russian languages.
Innovations in Technology
Several important technological advances in history can be credited to Czech medical scientists. For example, the Czech Professor Otto Wichterle invented the soft contact lens, and Jaroslav Heyrovsky won the 1959 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery and development of polarographic methods of analysis. In the 21st century, robotic surgery, first performed in 2006, is a radical step in Czech practical medicine.
Today, the excellence of Czech medicine means that the Czech Republic has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world and is well-known for its many successes in oncology, cardiology and infertility treatment, as well as with eye surgery. The high standard of medical and research centres, accessible up-to-date diagnoses and advanced medical devices allow for the availability of cutting-edge practical methods and follow-up care to patients from all around the world.
High Standards of Quality Care
One of the strongest pillars ensuring the stable, safe and quality provision of care in the Czech Republic is the national system to regulate medical care. The country maintains many systems of monitoring, controlling and improving medical standards, as well as dozens of parameters to assess hospital procedures and their safety. Many medical institutions in the Czech Republic apply for prestigious international certifications and awards, for example accreditation by Joint Commission International.
To gain certain levels of certification, hospitals must undergo several days of inspection by experienced, external auditors in order to verify whether they are in compliance with current accreditation standards. Accreditation is awarded for a period of three years, after which the healthcare facility must again apply for accreditation and provide proof of the improvements in procedures and effectiveness that it has achieved. An accredited hospital is able to guarantee its patients safe and high quality care through continuous tracking, internal analysis and the improvement of quality standards in all areas of the hospital’s operations.