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Information for Foreigners Living with HIV

Our website is primarily available in Czech. If you do not understand Czech, you can use the translation feature built into your web browser.

Instructions:

 

Running Out of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)?

If you are currently in the Czech Republic and are running out of your antiretroviral therapy (ART), or if you are having difficulty obtaining your medication (for example, because you cannot leave the country), please get in touch with us:

We will help you find the best solution.

Do not interrupt your treatment. If you know you will run out of medication soon, contact us before you miss any doses.

 

HIV, Foreigners and Health Insurance in the Czech Republic

Health insurance is mandatory in the Czech Republic. The type of health insurance you are eligible for and how you obtain it depend on your residence status and other circumstances.

Public health insurance covers the full cost of HIV treatment, including regular check-ups and necessary laboratory tests.

If you live in the Czech Republic, we recommend checking as soon as possible whether you are eligible for public health insurance. If you are, make sure you are enrolled without unnecessary delay.

If you are not eligible for public health insurance, you will generally need to take out private health insurance. However, it is important to know that in most cases private health insurance does not cover HIV treatment.

The most common way to obtain public health insurance is through employment with a Czech employer. The conditions may vary depending on the type of employment. You need to have an employment contract or, for certain types of agreements, meet a minimum monthly income threshold.

Detailed information is available on the VZP (General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic) website (English).

If you have temporary protection status, you can find information about public health insurance on the City of Prague website (Czech).

Before starting a new job, we recommend confirming that your employer will pay your health insurance contributions. After you start work, it is also advisable to check this directly with your health insurance company.

-> What if Your Insurance Does Not Cover HIV Treatment?

HIV treatment is very expensive if you have to pay for it yourself.

If your insurance does not cover HIV treatment, we recommend looking into ways of obtaining public health insurance as soon as possible, for example through employment.

Some people continue their treatment in their home country and travel there regularly to collect their medication and attend routine check-ups. If this is not possible because of armed conflict, your health condition, or another serious situation, please contact us. We will do our best to help you find the right solution.

-> Planning a Long-Term Stay in the Czech Republic?

If you are moving to the Czech Republic for work, to study, or for another reason, we recommend finding out before you arrive whether you will be eligible for public health insurance.

If not, it is advisable to consider in advance how your treatment will be paid for and to make sure you have enough antiretroviral medication to last until continuity of your HIV treatment can be ensured in the Czech Republic. Sometimes, a possible solution may be to return to your home country regularly to collect your medication and undergo any necessary tests.

-> Important Information for Citizens of the European Union

Under EU rules, you can generally be covered by public health insurance in only one EU Member State at a time.

If you are covered by public health insurance in another EU Member State, you may, in some cases, be able to continue receiving medically necessary healthcare during your stay in the Czech Republic under the EU rules on the coordination of social security systems, including health insurance.

The specific procedure depends on the purpose and length of your stay and other circumstances. If you are unsure, please get in touch with us. We will be happy to help you find the right solution.

-> Is Urgent Medical Care Guaranteed in the Czech Republic?

Anyone who needs urgent medical care will receive it in the Czech Republic, regardless of whether they have health insurance.

Access to further healthcare depends on the type and scope of your health insurance and may involve additional costs.

If you are unsure how your healthcare will be covered, we recommend contacting your health insurance provider or getting in touch with us.

 

HIV Treatment in the Czech Republic

HIV treatment is provided by specialised HIV centres at infectious disease departments and clinics (Czech).

The antiretroviral medications available in the Czech Republic meet current international standards. Medication shortages are rare and, when they occur, are usually short-term.

If you take your antiretroviral treatment regularly and maintain a long-term undetectable viral load, you cannot transmit HIV through sexual contact. This principle is known as U = U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). It is supported by extensive scientific research and recognised by international medical organisations.

 

Legal Information

Under Czech law, a person may, in certain circumstances, face legal consequences for knowingly exposing another person to the risk of contracting a serious infectious disease, including HIV.

Each case is assessed individually based on its specific circumstances.

If you have questions about your rights or obligations while living with HIV in the Czech Republic, please contact us. We can provide basic information or help you find specialised legal assistance.

 

Our Services

-> STI Testing

We offer free and anonymous testing (Czech) for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, available to foreigners as well.

You can get tested at 12 CheckPoint centres across the Czech Republic. No appointment is necessary.

-> STI Clinic

At our Prague centre, the House of Light (Dům světla), we run an STI clinic for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections in a safe and respectful environment.

In addition to urgent care for people with symptoms of an STI, we also offer:

  • preventive STI screening (including testing for gonorrhoea and chlamydia),
  • vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, HPV (human papillomavirus), meningococcal disease (group B), and tick-borne encephalitis.

For more information, visit our STI Clinic webpage (Czech).

You can book an appointment online via Bookle.cz (also available in English).

You must have public health insurance, or you can pay for the care yourself as a self-paying patient.

-> Condoms and Lubricants

Free condoms and lubricants (as part of our prevention package) are available at our prevention events, through our outreach workers, and at selected partner venues such as some gay clubs and saunas.

They are also available at our Prague office. After entering the building, walk past the reception area to find them (condoms and lubricant in a prevention package).

Condoms are also widely available at  pharmacies, drugstores and supermarkets throughout the Czech Republic.

-> PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

PrEP is a highly effective method of HIV prevention and is also available in the Czech Republic.

If you have only recently been diagnosed with HIV or have not yet achieved a sustained undetectable viral load, we recommend using condoms during sexual activity. In some cases, it may also be appropriate for your HIV-negative partner to take PrEP.

You can learn more about PrEP here (Czech).

-> Psychological Support

Living with HIV or moving to a new country can be a significant psychological burden.

If you need support, please get in touch with us at kontakt@aids-pomoc.cz.

We will help you find an English-speaking therapist or other suitable professional support.