Telemedicine, remote care, or doctors on demand–these terms are becoming increasingly familiar to the public. Telemedicine, online clinic, virtual doctor appointment–we know it as a part of modern medicine. For some time, telemedicine has already been making inroads into the Czech healthcare system too. It’s widely recognized that conventional healthcare in the Czech Republic is of an exceptionally high standard. But telemedicine complements it well. Telemedicine is also a welcome component of commercial health insurance, which you need to obtain a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic.
What this article covers:
Why choose comprehensive insurance even for short-term stays
Telemedicine According to WHO
First, we need to define telemedicine correctly. You could certainly find more definitions. We will stick to the one provided by the World Health Organization. It describes telemedicine as using telecommunications technologies to support the delivery of medical, diagnostic, and treatment-related services where distance is a critical factor. The World Health Organization defines four forms of telemedicine:
- Consultations between remote patient and healthcare provider
- Consultations among healthcare providers
- Data transfer to healthcare providers
- Telemonitoring of health and diagnostic data
It probably comes as no surprise that we associate the rapid growth of telemedicine with the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, technologies can deliver high-quality healthcare services remotely.
24/7 Care Without the Wait
Our user-friendly health insurance comparison tool allows you to choose insurance companies that offer telemedicine coverage as part of their comprehensive health insurance plans. “For example, Colonnade Insurance offers a 24/7 online clinic. Through it, you connect with a specialist who communicates in both Czech and English. You can consult them about your issue, get an e-prescription, or receive a referral to a suitable doctor,” says Ladislav Griga, Head of Telesales at FaBrika, which operates the website InfoCizinci.cz and the insurance comparison tool YesPojisteni.cz.
Telemedicine saves you a great deal of hassle and you will appreciate significant time savings too. You will not have to call around to different healthcare facilities, deal with language barriers, or spend ages looking for a doctor to treat you–whether it’s a general practitioner, a psychologist, or a gynecologist. “Waiting times in the Czech public healthcare system can be long. With this service, you simply connect with a doctor via video call or over the phone,” adds Griga. In case a follow-up in-person visit is necessary, your insurance coverage allows you to visit private clinics as well. Specifically, Colonnade Insurance cooperates with the Venova Clinic in Prague.
Comprehensive Insurance Means Comprehensive Service
Telemedicine coverage is also available through AXA ASSISTANCE CZ, specifically as part of the PREMIUM comprehensive health insurance package. In addition to online consultations and examinations via video call, the issuance of e-prescriptions and medical reports is included as standard. “Although comprehensive health insurance isn’t required for short-term stays in the Czech Republic, I strongly recommend it to clients not only because of its robust coverage and high insurance limits, but also because of telemedicine. Having the option to contact a doctor day or night and having immediate peace of mind is invaluable, especially in a foreign country. Moreover, insurance companies provide support for other languages, such as Ukrainian or Vietnamese,” concludes Ladislav Griga of FaBrika, the operator of the InfoCizinci.cz portal.
We are ready to help you find the right health insurance at our branch in downtown Prague. You will find it at the Máj Národní Department Store under the name YesPojisteni.cz. It’s open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
