Hospitals in Hungary for Expatriates and Visitors
Planning a trip to Hungary? Whether you’re considering travel or are interested in making the country a more permanent home, an important consideration is access to quality healthcare. And that often means accessing the country’s hospitals. Here is a guide to finding hospitals in Hungary.
How Many Hospitals Are in Hungary?
As of 2017, there were 165 hospitals in Hungary. This was the lowest number since 2000. However, the number of hospitals during that time period remained stable, with a high of 182 hospitals in 2005-2006.
What Kind of Hospitals Does Hungary Have?
Hungary offers its citizens universal healthcare funded by the tax system. This is funded through a program called the Health Insurance Fund (HIF). This insurance covers 100% of the population.
For children, students, pensioners, parents of babies, people with disabilities, the poor, and members of the clergy, this healthcare is entirely free.
The rest of the country has to pay into the HIF. The healthcare in Hungary is generally up to the standards of Western Europe, although it is on the lower end.
It is also fast improving. There has been a significant increase in life expectancy. Between 1993 and 2013, the country experienced a nearly 7.5-year increase in life expectancy for men and an almost 5-year increase for women.
Are Hospitals in Hungary Good?
Although Hungary’s healthcare system is comparable to that of the rest of Western Europe, its hospitals are plagued by many of the problems common to socialized healthcare systems.
These include long wait times and facilities that may not meet the standards of many Western visitors. This will be especially noticeable to those accustomed to a private healthcare system. It is also worth noting that the pay for doctors is the lowest of all OECD countries.
This affects the quality of care. It also leads to many Hungarian doctors choosing to work in the private sector instead of the public one.
List of Hospitals for Expats and Travelers to Hungary
Hospitals in Budapest
Nearly all of Hungary’s private hospitals are located in Budapest. Here is a list of the best hospitals to meet the needs of travelers and expats.
Buda Health Center
Nagy Jeno utca. 8
Budapest 1126 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 489 5200
Fax: + 36 1 489 5210
FirstMed Centers Hattyuhaz
Hattyu utca 14
Budapest H-1015 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 224 9090
Fax: + 36 1 224 9091
International Medical Services
Jarobeteg Klinika No. 1
Vaci ut 202
Budapest 1138 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 329 8423
Fax: + 36 1 349 9349
International Medical Services
Jarobeteg Klinica No. 2
Vihar u 29
Budapest 1035 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 250 3829
Fax: + 36 1 250 3829
Kelen Hospital
Than Karoly utca 20
Budapest 1119 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 205 0205
Fax: + 36 1 203 0457
R-Clinic
Rozsadomb Felsozoldmali ut 13
Budapest Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 325 9909
Medicover Eiffel Clinic, Diagnostic Centre and Dental Clinic
Eiffel Square Office Building, ground-floor
Teréz krt. 55-57
Budapest 1062 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 465 3100
Email: kapcsolat@medicover.hu
Rozsakert Medical Center
Rozsakert Shopping Center 2nd Floor
Gabor Aron u. 74-78/a
Budapest 1026 Hungary
Tel: + 36 1 391 5905
Hungarian Hospitals Outside of Budapest
Hungary’s first private hospital was in fact outside of Budapest, in Telki. Sadly, that hospital closed in 2013 due to bankruptcy.
Currently, there is a training hospital for internal medicine in Debrecen of some quality.
University of Debrecen Hospital
Moricz Zsigmond ut. 22
Debrecen 4004 Hungary
Tel: + 36 52 453 337
Fax: + 36 52 414 969
In Case of Dental Emergencies
There is no shortage of clinics in Budapest offering high-quality dental work at an affordable price. Here is one recommended.
The Eiffel Branch of Medicover, listed above in Budapest hospitals, also offers excellent dental services.
Semmelweis University
Department of Community Dentistry
Szentkirályi street 40
Budapest H–1088 Hungary
Tel: +36 1 317 6600, +36 1 317 0951
fszoi@dent.semmelweis-univ.hu
Vital Center Margitsziget
Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget
Budapest 1007 Hungary
Tel: +36 1 340 4518, +36 1 329 2968
Best Health Insurance Plans for Expats in Hungary
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
IMG Global Prima Medical Insurance
- Five flexible plan levels with optional add-ons
- Choose your coverage area based on where you live or travel
- Freedom to select your healthcare provider anywhere in the world
Best Health Insurance Plan for US Citizens Living in Hungary
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
- Pre-existing conditions covered with prior insurance
- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
Medical Tourism in Hungary
Hungary has a quality public healthcare system and an even stronger private one. As a result, Hungary has become one of the most popular European destinations for medical tourism.
This phenomenon began in the 1980s, when Austrians and Germans started taking advantage of affordable yet high-quality dental care.
Dental care remains a core component of Hungary’s medical tourism industry. However, with medical treatments costing 40-70% less than in the UK and Scandinavia, medical care has also attracted many visitors.
Finally, plastic surgery provides an essential part of the medical tourism industry. Facilities that cater to plastic surgery are sometimes combined with spa facilities.
What You Need to Know About Hospitals in Hungary as an Expat or Visitor
In a strange holdover from the communist era, when cash ‘gratitude payments’ were expected for better services, making a cash payment upfront gives the client access to better services and upgrades.
This is an essential tip to remember if you’re traveling outside of Budapest and may need to utilize Hungary’s public healthcare system.
Even at private hospitals, an upfront payment in cash is often required. Hospitals don’t generally bill insurance. Instead, you’ll be expected to pay and then be reimbursed.
Some Expats Use Both the Public and Private Hospital Systems
Once a person has established residency in Hungary, they are entitled to receive a card that offers them access to Hungary’s public healthcare system.
For new residents, this will not be a free service. Instead, they are required to pay into the HIF, but it is unlikely to cost more than $100 per month.
People will often combine this with private insurance, allowing them to save money on regular appointments and minor procedures, while ensuring that they are prepared in the event of something more serious.
Private Hospitals (and Private Insurance) Offer Services Necessary to Foreigners
In addition to offering shorter wait times, private hospitals are where you are most likely to find doctors, nurses, and aides who speak English.
It is in the private healthcare industry where innovation, state-of-the-art equipment, and medical prowess are driving the medical tourism industry.
Public hospitals in Hungary consistently face a shortage of nurses, which exacerbates inefficiency and redundancies within the public healthcare system.
Emergency Numbers in Hungary
In case the worst happens, here are the national numbers you’ll need for an emergency, including a 24-hour hotline for English speakers:
Ambulance: 104
Police: 107
Fire Department: 105
English-Speaker Hotline: 112
International Citizens Insurance has an experienced team of authors, including expatriates and world travelers, providing curated guidance for our clients.
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