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Word from the wise

Where to go and whom to call for health concerns in Prague

By Kathleen Kralowec
For The Prague Post
May 2nd, 2007 issue

KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
There are a number of dental clinics in Prague that are dedicated to putting a healthy smile on your face.
It’s a pain, but everyone gets sick. If you happen to have a health emergency while in a foreign country, you might feel as though you are stepping into scary, unfamiliar territory. Few things are more unnerving than wondering if you’ll be understood when you’re trying to get medical help, or not being sure you’ll understand the answers to your questions or instructions you receive. It doesn’t have to be that way, though.
While many generally agree that healthcare services in the Czech Republic are of good quality, confusion can arise in terms of where to go to get help from English-speaking doctors and nurses. As it turns out, there are quite a lot of options available to the city’s expat community. It’s just a matter of doing a little research beforehand.
Canadian Medical Care

Veleskavínská 1, Prague 6
Tel.: 235 360 133
Web: cmc.praha.cz

Polyclinic at Národní
Národní 9, Prague 1
Tel.: 222 075 120
Web: www.poliklinika.narodni.cz

DENTAKTIV
Lumírova 21, Prague 2
Tel.: 731 455 480
Web: www.dentaktiv.cz

Esthesia
Trojská 28, Prague 8
Tel.: 284 680 530
Web: www.esthesia.cz

European Dental Center
Václavské nám. 33, Prague 1
Tel.: 224 228 984
Web: www.edcdental.cz

Terapie.info s.r.o.
Národní 11, Prague 1
Tel.: 736 490 178
Web: www.terapie.info

Behar Center
Kateřinská 24, Prague 2
Tel.: 224 910 928
Web: www.beharcenter.cz

Babymoons Prenatal
K Vinicim 630, Prague 6
Tel.: 220 960 260
Web: www.babyabroad.com

There are, however, some pitfalls in the Czech healthcare system you should heed. According to a least a few local physicians, the country’s medical emergency services are almost nonexistent. In its place is something called Urgent Care, which experts warn falls alarmingly below standards.
“The training of emergency staff is woefully negligent when it comes to managing emergency cases. At the same time, there are very qualified people, but these are few and far between,” Dr. Martin Stranský, founder and director of Polyclinic at Narodní, a centrally located emergency medical service center that caters to the U.S. and British embassies.
KURT VINION/THE PRAGUE POST
Visiting the dentist or doctor's office doesn't have to be a scary experience. Many now have English-speaking staff to help you through the process.
Stranský, who is board-certified in the United States and has duel Czech and U.S. citizenship, adds that there are simply no emergency rooms in the Czech Republic. “There are only designated spots in hospitals, and they vary widely, based on the experience, needs and perspective of the hospital,” he says.
Dr. Milan Šašek, also a physician at Polyclinic at Narodní, explains there are other stark differences between the Czech healthcare system and facilities in Western countries.
“Medical care here is extremely compartmentalized,” Šašek says. “In the case of a heart attack, your high blood pressure won’t be monitored in an orthopedic ward, because the staff simply isn’t geared to do that. The team approach to patient care isn’t as common.”
Šašek, a U.S. board-certified doctor with more than eight years of experience, says the best thing visitors and expats can do in the case of an emergency is first call any of the 24-hour hotlines of healthcare providers that are listed in travel brochures, as they will act as a mediator between you and the emergency personnel, few of whom speak English.
It’s important to also note that many clinics, especially dental offices, only accept direct payment, which means that no matter what type of health insurance you have, you must front the entire estimated cost of the service. Clinics say they will help visiting patients fill out the mound of paperwork that often comes with seeking medical assistance in a foreign country. Those with Czech health insurance can receive reimbursements for dental services only in case of an emergency, as Czech health insurance generally covers only basic treatments.
Now that that is all cleared up, here are some tips for seeking out the best medical assistance in Prague.
General health care
There are many health centers in Prague that come equipped not only with friendly English-speaking staff but also offer a number of different medical services and treatments under one roof.
One option is the Canadian Medical Care, an outpatient clinic that does pretty much everything from dental care to major surgery, for both adults and children. Expats constitute about 70 percent of its clientele, and the venue also accommodates clients who require transport and home visits. Clinic spokeswoman Kamila Votrubová suggests expats get to know the city’s medical landscape while they are healthy.
“It is advisable to choose a private outpatient medical clinic immediately upon arrival in Prague, get acquainted with the services and one’s treating physician,” she says.
Dental services
More and more dental clinics in Prague are tailoring their services to fit expat needs.
Esthesia, for instance, offers a full range of dental services and accepts both credit cards and travelers’ checks. The entire staff there also speaks English. Executive Manager Lenka Bodnarová admits that finding English-speaking dental care in Prague is not difficult. “There are more and more foreign clients, and wherever you go, you can always find clinics that offer services in foreign languages,” she says.
Another clinic familiar with serving the needs of foreigners is Dentaktiv, where doctors not only speak English, but all have experience working or studying abroad. Office Manager Tereza Kaštáková says this makes a significant difference in the type of health care a clinic can offer.
“It definitely helps with communication, and not only on the language side. There are many dentists who are very good in their field but don’t have a client approach, and that’s something we look for,” she says.
Those looking for a high-class dentist’s visit can hop over to the European Dental Center. The international staff of the center includes dentists from Italy and Portugal, an orthopedic specialist from France and an implantologist from France. Their luxurious office is located in the center of Prague, with parking and a young, English-speaking staff.
The European Dental Center stays open late and on weekends at the request of patients. Their 24-hour line operates 365 days a year, and if you have a late-night emergency requiring immediate help, a doctor can be summoned to the office just for you.
Mental health
It’s one thing when you have to explain a broken leg to a doctor in another language. But what if the problem goes deeper?
Behar Center provides psychological and mental health services in English, Czech, German and Hebrew, with foreigners making up about 95 percent of their client base. The center’s Dr. Lior Behar says this high percentage of foreigners wasn’t planned. “It just happened like that, probably because I can speak English.” Originally from Israel, Behar says the main problem expats face in Prague is adjusting to their surroundings. “But there are many other problems as well. We see the whole spectrum,” he says.
The center provides help for eating disorders, addictions, depression, anxiety and other psychological issues.
Another place you can go for multilingual counseling is Terapie.info, which has a team of psychiatrists and psychotherapists who can speak English, French, Spanish, Russian and Czech. Dr. Thomas Rektor, who heads the center, says he believes that finding psychotherapists in Prague who speak English may actually be easier than finding specialists in other medical fields.
Prenatal services
For new and expectant mothers and fathers, Stephanie Kay’s Babymoon Prenatal provides individual and group classes in English that can take place at her home or yours. Her clients include many multinational couples.
Kay’s group courses cover a wide variety of topics, according to the needs and desires of the students. “People like it,” she says. “It’s very interactive. There’s a lot of group work."
There is also a lot of give and take.
“People tend to talk to other people, and tell others about their experience with different pediatricians,” Kay explains. “In one of my classes two different couples had a bad experience with the same pediatrician, and they were able to tell the group. So that’s how it works, its not just me telling people where to go, but it’s people telling each other, and letting their fellow new parents know what’s available.”
Kay says new expat parents needn’t worry about finding quality health services in Prague. “It can be daunting when you’re in a foreign country,” she says, “But the medical services in the Czech Republic are quite good.”

Kathleen Kralowec can be reached at specialsection@praguepost.com


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