There are situations when you need reliable information fast, like in a medical emergency, so we spared you the Google search and collected every piece of vital information, like emergency numbers, 24-H pharmacies, private healthcare facilities, and more.
All the recommendations made in this section have come from people who have used these services, and have found them to be helpful and of a high standard. We are always grateful for any comments you may have, as these help us ensure that this article remains useful and up-to-date.
CONTENTS
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
DENTAL EMERGENCIES
24-HOUR PHARMACIES
DOCTORS
PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
PRIVATE MEDICAL SERVICES *in alphabetical order*
THE HUNGARIAN SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
HEALTHCARE FOR EU CITIZENS
HEALTHCARE FOR NON-EU CITIZENS
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
112 – Main general emergency number – This number can be dialed from any mobile phone, telephone booth or landline phone, for any kind of emergency.
104 – Ambulance (+36 1 350 3737) / National Ambulance Service
107 – Police
105 – Fire Department.
24-HOUR CALL OUT MEDICAL SERVICES (these services may charge a fee)
DENTAL EMERGENCIES
Semmelweis University
Department of Community Dentistry
H–1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi street 40.
Tel: +36 1 317 6600, +36 1 317 0951
fszoi@dent.semmelweis-univ.hu
PATIENT VISITING
On work days:
8.00–13.00, 14.00–19.00
Emergency dental care (fogorvosi ügyelet): 20.00–7.00
On Saturday, Sunday, non-working day and holidays: 8.00–13.00, 14.00–19.00
Medical Hotline: +36 1 200 0100
24-HOUR PHARMACIES
Pharmacies (Gyógyszertár or Patika in Hungarian) are indicated with a green cross. Every district has at least 1 pharmacy open 24-hours a day, mostly at major road junctions. This link, in Hungarian only, lists the pharmacies that are on call at night on a given day. Medical prescriptions are not accepted anywhere except pharmacies, although many common basic medicines, such as aspirin, can be bought without a prescription.
DOCTORS
You are free to choose your own general practitioner under the public healthcare system. A doctor is assigned to the area where you live, but if you have your own choice, or have found a medical centre that speaks your native language, you can change your doctor. Office hours are normally between 8.00-12.00 and 16.00-20.00. If you become ill at the weekend, there is always an on-duty medical service available in every district. You can enquire at the non-stop pharmacies for more information.
PRIVATE HEALTHCARE
There are plenty of private clinics and healthcare options for anyone looking to be treated in English or another foreign language and in more comfortable surroundings than one might find in a typical state hospital or clinic in Hungary. Payment options include already holding an international insurance policy that one of the private clinics accepts or it is also possible to take out a local private policy with one of the clinics. This would give coverage up to a certain point but it’s important to note that most of the private clinics don’t include in-patient care or more complex diagnosis such as CT and MRI and if the patient doesn’t hold state health insurance or a comprehensive international health insurance policy. In general, it’s best to talk to at least one private clinic and get a feel for what they do and do not cover.
PRIVATE MEDICAL SERVICES *in alphabetical order*
Dr. Rose Medical Centre
H–1051 Budapest Széchenyi tér 7-8. Tower “C” Floor 6
www.drrose.hu
+36 1 377 6737
Firstmed Centers
H–1015 Budapest Hattyú u. 14. H–1021 Budapest, Hűvösvölgyi út 181. www.firstmedcenters.com
+36 1 224 9090
Medicover
Alkotás Point Business Center
H–1123 Budapest Alkotás út 50.
www.medicover.com
+36 1 465 3100
Eiffel Square Office Building, ground floor
H–1062 Budapest Teréz Krt 55–57.
+36 1 465 3100
Oktogon Medical Center
Address: 1066 Budapest, Oktogon tér 3. fszt/6. és 1067 Budapest, Teréz krt. 21. I/5A
https://www.oktogonmedical.hu/
Phone: +36 1 773 3650
Email:info@oktogonmedical.hu
Rózsakert Medical Center
Rózsakert Shopping Center 3rd floor
H–1026 Budapest Gábor Áron u. 74-78/a.
www.medical-center.hu
+36 1 392 0505
Saint James Hospital
1026 Bp, Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 33-35.
http://www.lassjol.hu/en/
+36 1 788-2927
recepcio@stjameshospital.hu
Swiss Prémium Health Centre
H–1123 Budapest, Nagyenyed u. 8-14.
info@swissclinic.hu +36 1 225 0566
www.swissclinic.hu/en/
Customer Service, Appointments
info@swissclinic.hu +36 1 225 0566
Vital Center Margitsziget (dental services)
Danubius Health Spa Resort, 1007 Budapest, Margitsziget
www.vitalcenter.hu
+36 1 340 4518, +36 1 329 2968
THE HUNGARIAN SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
The Hungarian healthcare system is largely free of charge for anyone who can provide a Hungarian social insurance number and card (TAJ szám, TAJ kártya) or who holds a valid EU International Health Card (EHIC). Medical services in Hungary are substantially financed by the state budget, which takes a monthly contribution from every locally contracted employee’s salary, and no payment is claimed for the actual treatment. With a valid Hungarian social security account, you are entitled to full medical care, excluding prescription charges.
HEALTHCARE FOR EU CITIZENS
EU citizens who are not paid a salary locally but who possess an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) are also treated free of charge to an extent. Only those treatments are free of charge, which are considered urgent and necessary by a given doctor. Any additional hospital care or the cost of non-urgent care would need to be settled personally by the patient. When using the EHIC, reimbursement of the cost of treatment varies from country to country, depending on the agreement between Hungary and the given country. Usually the two health insurance authorities settle the re-invoicing of the cost. Before arrival, please investigate this with your own state health authority.
With the EHIC only urgent and necessary treatments are provided free of charge. Just as in other countries, you are entitled to hold private medical insurance as well and this is certainly something we recommend for anyone who is not fully covered by the state healthcare system. Holding a private medical insurance policy does not exclude you from having to contribute to the state system, so the monthly contributions will still be taken from your monthly salary.
Should your employment be terminated for any reason, then after 46 days of the termination, you need to take out a private contract with the Hungarian state healthcare authority. The fee payable could be as little as 7,320 HUF per month but could be significantly higher, depending on the level of social security contributions you have paid during the current financial year to date.
Healthcare for EU family members
For a family member of an EU citizen who has been living in Hungary for a year (this is counted from the issuing date of the address card) it is mandatory to make a private contract with the state health authority. The fee payable depends on the given year’s fees when you have to make this contract. For children under the age of 18 the health care system is free of charge, though parents will need to apply for a Hungarian social security card for any child, once they have obtained a Hungarian Registration and an address card. A baby born in Hungary automatically receives the Hungarian social security card, once the registration at the immigration office has been completed. The Hungarian social security card is delivered to the address that has been provided for the registration card request.
HEALTHCARE FOR NON-EU CITIZENS
A Non-EU citizen is entitled to take any medical care free of charge in case he or she is on Hungarian payroll and an employee of a Hungarian company, just like their Hungarian and EU colleagues.
Interested in what you can expect as a resident in Hungary after Brexit? Click here.
An employee’s family members in any case need to present proof of comprehensive health insurance for their residence permit application. This is important as family members of non-EU employees on local payroll are not covered by the employee’s Hungarian state social security payments.
Healthcare for non-EU family members
It is possible for non-EU family members to access the state healthcare system via a private contract with the health authority. The fee payable is calculated as follows: for children under the age of 18, 30% of that given year’s gross minimum monthly wage needs to be paid (by yellow postal check) per month. For applicants over the age of 18, the percentage is higher, at 50% of the gross minimum wage. Once the first payment is made, the individual has the right to urgent and necessary treatment only. Full access to the system is only given after 7 months’ payments have been made. An applicant may gain full access to the system immediately but then they must pay in 7 months’ contributions immediately.
As a non-EU resident it’s not compulsory to contract with the Hungarian state healthcare system, but it certainly is compulsory to hold private health insurance that would cover any possible eventualities.