Updated 15/02/2025

Country overview

The Czech Republic has no restrictions on entry and residence for people living with HIV. Antiretroviral drugs can be carried for personal use in quantities corresponding to the length of stay, regardless of the type of visa. If possible, it is recomended to obtain a certificate confirming the diagnosis and prescription of drugs from your normal specialist physician.

When renewing any visa (work, study, or humanitarian (for refugees)) you may need a doctor's certificate confirming that you are not a carrier of an infectious disease that may threaten citizens of the Czech Republic. Previously, there have been no refusals to extend visas for applicant’s living with HIV, but if difficulties arise in such a situation, it is recommended to seek support. See.

Labor migrants

To receive ART, migrant workers should visit one of the large regional hospitals specializing in the treatment of HIV infection, to undergo mandatory tests. As a rule, ART is issued for three months at a time.

To make an appointment with a doctor, you will need the following documents:

Pracovní vízum (work visa), its presence provides access to the labor market (“Volný Přístup Na Trh Práce - Ano”) and state insurance.
Certificate VZP (Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna České Republiky). VZP (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH pVZP!) is a state-owned insurance company. The certificate is issued based on one of three employment contracts: DPP, DPČ, HPP (ZPU). Often, when concluding a DPP contract, the employer is unable or unwilling to pay insurance premiums, so it is worth discussing this separately with the employer before signing the contract. You can share the cost of your insurance premiums with your employer.

For students:

The level of access to ART for students from outside the EU area differs from those living in the EU. Each student has one of three types of visas: 23, 24 or 99. Not all of them provide access to the labor market. If a student has one which allows access to the labor market, he should follow the migrant worker scheme. However, if the type of student visa does not provide employment opportunities, HIV treatment for its holder becomes impossible.

In the case where a student visa does not provide the right to work, there are only a few options for obtaining ART:

Contact an NPO but expect only one-time assistance.
Bring medications from abroad yourself, since sending by mail or courier service is impossible.
Conclude an agreement with a private insurance company. Currently, there is only one company available to students - pVZP.

In some cases, the insurance company is willing to cover the costs of ART, but the cost of the insurance is significantly higher. Prior to concluding the contract, you will be asked to undergo the necessary tests at your own expense and send a report from a Czech doctor. The cost of tests is high, but you can also turn to NGOs for help. Based on the tests and doctor's opinion, pVZP will decide whether to cover your ART costs or not.

Refugees

The mechanism for obtaining ART for refugees is quite simple. You must visit one of the large regional hospitals specializing in the treatment of HIV infection, present a humanitarian visa and provide your contact information. The hospital will offer to take required blood samples and send for analysis. You can receive the drugs immediately if you have a certificate from the attending physician confirming the prescription for ART medication or if you have preserved the packaging for your medication.

Access to treatment

You can get ART at any hospital that specializes in treating HIV infection. These are usually large regional clinics. First, you need to make an initial appointment in advance using the department's email or by calling the hotline and then attending at the given appointed time. Medicines are given out at the department.

HIV center of Na Bulovce Hospital

Web site: www.bulovka.cz

Address: Budínova 2, 180 81, Prague 8

HIV clinic Central Military Hospital (Central Military Hospital)

Web site: www.uvn.cz

Address: Central Military Hospital - Military Faculty Hospital Prague, U Vojenské nemocnice 1200, 169 02, Prague 6

HIV Center Pilsen Bory (Central Military Hospital)

Web site: inf.fnplzen.cz

Address: Infectious Disease Clinic Faculty Hospital, Dr.Beneše 13, 305 99 Plzeň.

HIV Center of Ostrava University Hospital (Clinic of Infectious Medicine Ostrava University Hospital)

Web site: www.fno.cz

Address: Department of Infectious Diseases, Ostrava University Hospital, 17 November 1790, 708 52, Ostrava – Poruba

HIV Center of the Faculty Hospital Brno - Bohunice (Infectious Disease Clinic of the Brno University Hospital)

Web site: www.fnbrno.cz

Address: Infectious Disease Clinic of the Brno General Hospital (pavilion A, 2nd floor), Jihlavská 20, 625 00, Brno.

HIV Center Ústí nad Labem (Infectious Disease Department of Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem)

Web site: www.kzcr.eu

Address: Infectious Diseases Department of the Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem, o. z., Na Kabátá, 401 13, Ústí nad Labem

HHIV Center Hradec Králové (Infectious Diseases Clinic, FN)

Web site: www.fnhk.cz

Address: FN Infectious Diseases Clinic (building 6), Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové.

HIV Center in České Budějovice (Infectious Disease Department of the Hospital)

Address: Infectious Disease Department hospital, B. Němcové 54, 370 01 České Budějovice.

HIV Center Liberec

Address: Husova 357/10, 460 63 - Liberec.

It is impossible to buy ART in the country without a prescription from a Czech doctor. It is also impossible to order medications outside the country, since medications are prohibited from being sent by mail, even if they are vital.

In case of urgent need, the drugs will be provided at one of the hospitals specializing in the treatment of HIV infection. But if you don't have insurance that covers ART, you will have to pay for it.

In emergency cases, you can seek support from an NPO. There you can get legal advice in several languages, and if you do not have insurance, help in obtaining medications. Most often it is free, but they will only be able to give you ART once or twice.

NGOs

Service: shelter for people living with HIV, social support, psychosocial support, testing for HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, assistance in obtaining PrEP

Web site: www.aids-pomoc.cz; www.zijupozitivne.cz

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Malého 282/3, 186 00 Prague 8 - Karlín

Phone: +800 800 980