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Záchranná služba

emergency medical service

What does “Záchranná služba” mean in Czechia?

Záchranná služba (emergency medical service) — an ambulance service you call when your life is in danger.

Numbers

155 — záchranná služba (emergency medical service)
112 — the single European emergency number

Záchranná služba vs. pohotovost

záchranná služba — comes to you when your life is in danger
pohotovost — you go there yourself when your general practitioner is closed; a regulatory fee of 90 CZK applies

The 90 CZK fee is only for pohotovost. If the doctor decides to admit you to the hospital, you do not pay this fee.

Important. Numbers 155 and 112 are well-known, but they were not confirmed as official sources in our check — compare with the website of your region or insurance company. And do not call an ambulance instead of pohotovosť (emergency medical service): these are different services for different conditions.

Examples of use

Call an ambulance at 155.

I will go to the emergency room by myself, the ambulance will come to me.

I go to the emergency room myself, and the ambulance comes to me.

Articles on this topic

Life

Czech Healthcare Through the Eyes of a Migrant — Insurance, Doctors, and DocumentsArticle

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a záchranná služba (emergency medical service) and a pohotovosť (emergency room/clinic)?

Emergency Medical Service arrives when life is in danger. Pohotovost (emergency outpatient clinic) is a place you go to yourself outside of doctors' working hours, with a fee of 90 CZK.

What is the number for an ambulance in the Czech Republic?

155. The single European emergency number is 112.