Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the Czech Republic made a smooth transition to a decentralized and private health care system, which guarantees health care for all. The health care system in the Czech Republic is a mandatory public health insurance system. All people residing in the Czech Republic must have coverage, whether via public or private insurance. People employed by a Czech company are entitled to join the public system, and their employer will use a small percentage of the employee’s salary to pay for their medical costs. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance oversee the public health insurance system. These two departments work together to ensure that the system runs smoothly, patients get the right care, and that doctors are reimbursed for their services. Those not employed by a Czech company or those considered expatriates may select health insurance coverage through a private carrier.
A general practitioner is usually the first point of contact for a patient. They can refer patients to specialists when necessary. However, in the case of emergency or urgent care, people may go straight to a specialist without a referral. There are currently over 25,000 health care providers in the Czech Republic, and as of 2002, roughly 200 major hospitals which specialize in emergency and operative care. The majority of all providers are small private practices.
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