If you are relocating to Prague this summer, your to-do list is likely massive: finding an apartment, securing your visa, and figuring out the public transit system. However, there is one crucial task expats consistently leave until the last minute: registering with local doctors. In the Czech Republic, waiting until you are sick to find a doctor is a massive mistake. The public system is heavily strained, and many clinics simply refuse new patients due to full capacity. To e

You have a pounding headache or a runny nose. You walk into a supermarket in Prague, head to the "health" aisle, and expect to find shelves stocked with Tylenol, DayQuil, or aspirin. Instead, you find vitamins, tea, and maybe some band-aids. For many expats, this is the first "culture shock" of the Czech medical system. In the Czech Republic, the rules surrounding medication—even simple painkillers—are significantly stricter than in the US or UK. Navigating the Lékárna (Phar

Living in Prague offers a wonderful opportunity to experience rich history and culture in the heart of Europe. But for many Japanese expatriates and their families, life overseas comes with a significant source of anxiety: healthcare. When you are unwell, your energy reserves are low. The thought of navigating a complex foreign medical system, trying to describe subtle symptoms in a second language, or understanding complicated diagnoses in English or Czech can be overwhelmin