Treatment abroad: Slovakia 

Slovakia, a rising destination for medical tourism, offers top-notch healthcare services in fields such as dentistry, orthopaedics, and spa treatments, providing quality care at competitive prices in a picturesque European setting.

Bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria in the west, Poland in the north, Ukraine in the east and Hungary in the south Slovakia is new to the medical and dental tourism arena, but a destination well worth considering for very competitively priced treatments.

Why consider Slovakia for medical tourism?

With reputable, top quality and very reasonably priced cosmetic surgery and dental treatment, and the chance to recuperate in lovely traditional spa towns, Slovakia is an ideal choice for the medical tourist.

The country has stunning mountain ranges, national parks, old spa towns and thermal pools, camping opportunities, water sports and fascinating underground caves to explore, providing plenty to see and do.You will also find this a friendly place – the Slovaks are hospitable people who are keen to throw off the negative perceptions that outsiders have of former communist countries, and you will find a warm and enthusiastic welcome as tourists are seen as a key to the economic success of this emerging country.

The Slovak Republic has a moderate climate with four seasons and an average daily temperature of -2 degrees Celsius in winter and 21 degrees Celsius in summer. The coldest month is January and Slovakia is at its warmest in July and August. Snow remains on the ground an average of 130 days per year in the highest elevations. The official language is Slovak, though you might find the locals talking ‘Mishmash’, a combination of Slovak, Hungarian, German or Polish.

Piestany in the centre of Slovakia is a lovely old town built around its many health spas, many of which offer traditional ‘cures’ (therapeutic minerals and thermal springs). Not surprisingly medical tourism has arrived in Piestany with practices offering treatments and surgery within spa and wellbeing facilities to help soothe you as you recuperate.

Reasons to choose Slovakia

Very low prices for cosmetic surgery and dental treatment

Many top class facilities exclusively for health tourists

Well qualified, multi-lingual staff

Easy to reach with short flights from within Europe

Slovaks are warm, welcoming, hospitable people

Lots of spa towns to recover and recuperate

Healthcare in Slovakia

As with many post-communist countries, the standards of general healthcare in Slovakia are average at best, although basic healthcare is provided free to all Slovakian nationals and long term residents. Some services, such as dental treatment and prescriptions drugs are only partly state subsidized and patients must make a contribution. There are a total of 44 state hospitals in Slovakia, serving a population of 5 million, and funding has been a major problem in the past.

Private healthcare is rarely used by the general public in Slovakia, although medical tourism is a growing industry. Although all doctors work in private practice, the bulk of their work is paid for through the compulsory state medical insurance. Wealthier patients may top up this contribution to improve or speed up their care, or to purchase care that is not covered by the government insurance, such as cosmetic surgery.

Healthcare for medical tourists

Slovakia has responded to the healthcare tourism market with some high quality facilities aimed squarely at the pockets of visitors who come seeking low cost cosmetic surgery and dentistry.

Healthcare tourism tends to be centred on Slovakia’s many natural spas, many with unique thermal or mineral properties. The most popular of these is Piestany, the biggest spa in Slovakia, where around half of the 50,000 annual visitors are healthcare tourists. While the focus at these centres tends to be more of a general ‘wellness’ spa concept, clinics for plastic surgery and dentistry are also drawn to the area to combine modern medicine with traditional rest and rejuvenation.

High quality, low cost clinics are also available for overseas patients in the major cities, such as Bratislave, Kosice and Banska Bystrica, where you will find modern facilities and well qualified, English speaking staff.

Travel and accommodation

Bratislava Airport(otherwise known as MR Stefanik, BTS) is located around 9km north of the city centre. You can take a 30 minute public bus journey into town; bus number 61 runs regularly between MR Stefanik and the main railway station. Or look out for theairport shuttleservice which travels between the airport and the city centre. Alternatively, take a taxi from the rank outside arrivals, the journey time will be around 15 minutes. Other airports in Slovakia inlcudeKoice Airport(KSC),Tatry-Poprad Airport(TAT), andAirport Slia.

Air Slovakiahas domestic services from Bratislava to Kosice.

You could consider getting to Slovakia by instead flying to neighbouring countries such as Prague in the Czech Republic, Krakow in Poland or Vienna in Austria (Vienna International Airportis only 50km from Bratislava), andthen taking atrainto Bratislava.

The Intercity (IC) and Eurocity (EC) trains are quite comfortable and there are direct international rail connections toVienna,Warsaw,Budapest,Bucharest,Moscow,KievandPraguefromBratislava.

Travelling by train or car

For eco conscious non-flyers the train is a good consideration.Seat 61has details about trains to SlovakiafromLondonviaVienna travelling either via Paris or Brussels, the route via Paris is easier but the route via Brussels can often be cheaper. Call Rail Europe on 08708 371371 for advice about prices and routes.

Driving is on the right in Slovakia and car rental companies are located in the larger cities and at the airport. Slovakia has anexpansive network of roads with highways, expressways and 1st, 2nd and 3rd class roads. 316km of highways were constructed in 2004 and there are tolls for using the highways and expressways paid by highway stickers (valid for one year/ month or week).For driving tips and advice see TheNationalAutomobileClubofSlovakia(NAMK). There are good road connections from Bratislava to the spa towns and plenty of scenic driving in Slovakia but drive carefully as some curves and bends in the roads are in poor condition.

Public transport

There are public buses, trolley buses and trams in Bratislava, and most networks run from 5am to midnight. Tickets for all public transport need to be purchased in advance with a slightly complicated ticketing process involving tickets for the duration of the journey, eg from 10 to 60 minutes. Each journey time is listed on the timetables but it might be best for short term visitors who don’t know how long a particular route will take, to purchase either a 24 or 48 hour ticket to make life simpler! More information about the public transport in Bratislava can be found atimhd. You can get around most of the country bytrainwhile public buses travel to the more remote villages.

In terms of accommodation a four star hotel in Bratislava will cost between approximately €100. A double room in a luxury four star styled hotel like the Radisson in the Old Town of Bratislava for example will cost 50% more but a three star 50% less. However you can find rooms in hotels outside of the capital at much lowerpricesand you might geta room for as little as €40.

The currencyin Slovakia has been the Euro since 2009. Slovakia is GMT + 1 (or + 2 in daylight saving time).

About Slovakia

Slovakia is a beautiful country located in Central Europe boasting mountains, forests, valleys, arts, culture and castles. Officially known as the Slovak Republic, the country celebrated its independence from the former ‘Czechoslovakia’ (now the Czech Republic) in January 1993 and became a member of the European Union (and NATO) in 2004.

Slovakia borders the Czech Republic and Austria in the west, Poland in the north, Ukraine in the east and Hungary in the south. Its capital, Bratislavais its largest city.It is a peaceful country, with beautiful scenery, inexpensive shopping and hospitable people. The Danube River connects Bratislava with Vienna and Budapest.

The Slovak Republic has a moderate climate with four seasons and an average daily temperature of -2 degrees Celsius in winter and 21 degrees Celsius in summer. The coldest month is January and Slovakia is at its warmest in July and August. Snow remains on the ground an average of 130 days per year in the highest elevations. The official language is Slovak, though you might find the locals talking ‘Mishmash’, a combination of Slovak, Hungarian, German or Polish! English is widely spoken.

The capital Bratislava, formerly known as Pressburg or Pozsony, is located on the river Danube, in the south west, and could best be described as quaint, rather than bustling, as it has more of a small town feel to it than many capital cities. Slovaks, Germans, Jews and Hungarians have all lived here and with the castle overlooking the city from its hilltop position, Bratislava is a very beautiful and charming city to explore. As one of the youngest capitals in Europe, it is also a dynamically developing city with an increasing number of attractions and places of interest. As far as culture goes, music and opera (the Slovak National Theatre is located in a beautiful Habsburg-era building) are both big in Bratislava; and the city boasts over 20 art galleries and plenty of museums for the history buff. Bratislava boasts a wealth of excellent shopping, with major names sitting alongside unique and original stores.

As for dining; expect to find a cafe, bar, restaurant or pub on almost every corner and in the spring/summer time the tables and chairs will line the pedestrian streets so you can enjoy a glass of al fresco local Vino, along with some traditional food like Bryndzove Halusky, small dumplings made of potato dough, (similar to the Italian dish; Gnocchi). Shopaholics will also be pleased to discover the city is great for shopping and can bend their plastic in the malls at Polus City Centre, Aupark, Avion, Tatracentrum, Danubiana Shopping Center and Soravia Shopping Palace which are packed full of bargain designer brands, the likes of Pierre Cardin, Swarovski, Tom Tailor, Follie Follie, Trussardi as well as high street stores like Sisley and Mango.

In Slovakia’s ski resorts you can enjoy winter sports at unbelievable prices, and at other times of the year there’s a choice of sports and activities including hiking, cycling, horse riding, fishing and golf. Forests, lakes, mountains, rivers and hot springs provide a range of outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities.

Slovakia is in the Central European Time zone and the local currency is the Euro.