If you're planning on staying in Prague for any length of time, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with the healthcare options available in the city.

Alongside an excellent public health service, the Czech Republic now has a wide range of private clinics, offering a greater degree of comfort and specialization than their state-funded counterparts.

Even if you decide to go private, however, it's always good to know where the nearest emergency room is.

PUBLIC HOSPITALS

FAKULTNÍ NEMOCNICE V MOTOLE
V úvalu 84, Prague 5
Phone: (+420) 224 431 111

The foreigners' department at the FN Motol teaching hospital, one of Central Europe's biggest medical facilities, offers consultations in English, German, French, Russian and Spanish. Despite being part of the Czech public healthcare system, Motol also treats patients who don't have Czech health insurance on a private basis.

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ÚSTŘEDNÍ VOJENSKÁ NEMOCNICE PRAHA
U vojenské nemocnice 1200, Prague 6
Phone: (+420) 973 202 712

Open to civilians as well as soldiers, the "Central Military Hospital" is generally considered one of the Czech Republic's best and has frequently treated former President Václav Havel. ÚVN's facilities include a 24-hour emergency room and, according to the US Embassy, an English-speaking staff member is always available.

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NEMOCNICE NA HOMOLCE
Roentgenova 2, Prague 5
Phone: (+420) 257 271 111

Just down the road from Motol, "Homolka" offers treatment to expats with Czech health insurance, European Health Insurance Card-holders and to foreigners with no insurance. According to Na Homolce's website, the hospital's staff includes speakers of English, German, French and Russian.

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FAKULTNÍ NEMOCNICE NA BULOVCE
Budínova 2, Prague 8
Phone: (+420) 257 271 111

"Bulovka" covers the city's eastern districts -- Pragues 7, 8 and 9. Na Bulovce doesn't have a dedicated foreigners' department but, according to the US Embassy, it accepts payment for treatment by Visa card and has an ATM machine that takes Cirrus, MasterCard and American Express. There's also an emergency room.

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CLINICS

CANADIAN MEDICAL CARE
Veleslavínská 1, Prague 6
Phone: (+420) 235 360 133

Established in 1995, this private outpatient clinic provides healthcare to expats, tourists and locals. Beyond check-ups, CMC's specializations include internal medicine, physiotherapy, dentistry and gynecology. Along with this location, there's another CMC clinic and an affiliated pediatrics center in Prague 4.

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OG GROUP MEDICAL CENTRE
Vodičkova 699/30, Prague 1
Phone: (+420) 224 220 037

In addition to primary care, this private clinic's services include physiotherapy, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, cardiology, diabetology, dietology, physiotherapy, podiatrics, dermatology, neurology, psychiatry and psychology. English, French, Italian and Russian spoken.

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POLIKLINIKA NA NÁRODNÍ
Národní 9, Prague 1
Phone: (+420) 222 075 120

Founded by American-trained physician Martin Jan Stranský, Prague's oldest polyclinic provides 20 English-speaking doctors with a base for their private practices. Poliklinika na Národní covers all basic and many specialist areas of medicine, along with 24-hour emergency treatment, dentistry and physiotherapy.

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UNICARE MEDICAL CENTER
Na dlouhém lánu 11
Phone: (+420) 235 356 553

Focused on Prague's international community, Unicare offers a comprehensive healthcare service to expatriate families. The clinic's multilingual medical staff includes English-speaking specialists in a number of fields and can also arrange treatment in a Czech hospital. There's a second Unicare location in Pr?honice.

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OB/GYN

PRAGUE WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER
Kartouzská 6, Prague 5
Phone: (+420) 251 614 686

Affiliated with the Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice teaching hospital, the PWHC's multilingual staff provides obstetrics and gynecology services to patients with or without health insurance. A 24-hour emergency service is also available and all major credit cards accepted. English, Russian and German spoken.

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GYNCENTRUM
Hloubětínská 3/13, Prague 9
Phone: (+420) 724 030 966

Established in 1992, GynCentrum now consists of the original clinic in Prague 9-Hloubětín plus facilities in Prague 2-Nové Město (on Karlovo náměstí), Prague 4-Chodov and Prague 5-Smíchov. As well as handling outpatients, Hloubětín also carries out procedures requiring an overnight stay.

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