A surge in preventive healthcare in Czechia marks a positive shift in public health behavior, as citizens increasingly focus on futureproofing their well-being. The General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP), the country’s largest health insurer, reports a significant rise in preventive care uptake, with a 73% year-on-year increase in claims for voluntary vaccinations and a 25% increase in preventive healthcare expenditure compared to 2023, reaching CZK 9 billion (€350 million).
VZP Director Zdeněk Kabátek highlighted this trend, stating, “People are behaving more responsibly towards their health. The uptake of preventive care has been consistently rising since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pace is accelerating.” Preventive check-ups, such as general practitioner visits, have surged by 11% compared to last year, and 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Screening programs for diseases like prostate cancer and osteoporosis have also seen a 17% year-on-year increase in participation.
Jan Bodnár, Deputy Director of VZP for healthcare, emphasized the long-term benefits of this shift, viewing the rising costs as an investment. “The Czech Republic has a very good disease detection system, and more people are taking advantage of it. I believe this trend will continue in the coming years.”
Newly introduced screening initiatives, such as those for osteoporosis and lung cancer, have driven this change. The osteoporosis screening, launched last year, has engaged nearly 300,000 clients, while lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals saw a 67% rise in participation.
To encourage preventive care, VZP has linked its benefit programs to compliance with preventive check-ups. This strategy has led to a 73% increase in claims for voluntary vaccinations, including significant interest in vaccines for whooping cough and tick-borne encephalitis.
The Czech Ministry of Health has prioritized prevention, with Health Minister Vlastimil Válek advocating for increased preventive measures to sustain the healthcare system and improve public health. This post-pandemic shift, fueled by both public and healthcare provider efforts, marks a promising future for preventive care in Czechia.
