Specialists
How to see a specialist
The Czech system leans on your GP as a coordinator. For most public-insurance specialist visits you need a written referral (poukaz). A few specialties can be accessed directly.
Direct access, no referral
- Gynaecology.
- Dentistry.
- Ophthalmology.
- Dermatology (in some regions).
- Psychiatry (self-referral allowed but often quicker with a GP note).
Typical wait times, public
- Cardiology: 2 to 6 weeks.
- Neurology: 4 to 12 weeks.
- Orthopaedics: 4 to 12 weeks for consultation, months for elective surgery.
- Dermatology: 4 to 8 weeks routine, faster with acute referral.
- Gastroenterology: 4 to 10 weeks.
Urgent cases jump the queue. If your GP writes "akutne" on the referral, most practices will find a slot within a week or two.
Private-pay specialist visits
Same doctors often work in both systems. A private consultation with the same specialist you would eventually see publicly can happen within days. Prague prices range 1,500 to 4,000 CZK for a specialist consultation, more for surgical pre-op visits. Ask if diagnostics done privately will be accepted by your public surgeon.