PrEP in Czechia: The HIV Centrum Route

PrEP in Czechia is partially subsidized by public health insurance (zdravotní pojišťovna)—but only if you know exactly which door to walk through. You cannot get subsidized PrEP from a regular GP. You must go through a specialized "HIV Centrum," where you will pay a manageable copayment instead of the massive full retail price.

Who Can Get It

Subsidized PrEP is available to individuals deemed at high risk of HIV. This includes gay and bisexual men, transgender individuals, and serodiscordant couples.

You must be registered with a Czech health insurance provider (like VZP). If you follow the official HIV Centrum route, the insurance covers the appointments and the lab tests. However, the medication itself is not broadly covered by insurance. You will pay out of pocket at the pharmacy, which currently costs roughly 500–1,500 CZK per month (€20–€60) depending on the generic brand available.

Under 26? The Czech AIDS Help Society (ČSAP) offers a subsidy program for people aged 26 and under, which reduces your out-of-pocket cost for the medication to just 250 CZK per month. You pay the full price at the pharmacy and apply for reimbursement via chciprep.cz.

If you are uninsured or go through a private clinic outside the official network, you will pay for the consultations and lab tests as well, which can add significant costs on top of the medication.

How to Get It

Step 1: Book at an HIV Centrum

You must see an infectious disease specialist at an approved HIV Centrum.

• Prague: Nemocnice Na Bulovce (the primary hub) or Ústřední vojenská nemocnice (ÚVN).
• Brno: Fakultní nemocnice Brno.
• Ostrava: Fakultní nemocnice Ostrava.

Use chciprep.cz to find the most current list of "PrEP Points" and check which ones accept your specific insurance company. You can usually book directly without a GP referral.

Step 2: The Baseline Tests

At your first appointment, the doctor will run mandatory tests to ensure PrEP is safe for you:

• HIV test
• Full STI screen
• Kidney function (creatinine)
• Hepatitis B/C screening

Step 3: The Pharmacy

Once cleared, the doctor issues a prescription. Take this and your insurance card (průkaz pojištěnce) to the pharmacy. You will pay the cost of the medication out of pocket (unless using the under-26 subsidy). Ask for the cheapest generic TDF/FTC available.

If You Can't Wait

Wait times at major HIV Centrums like Bulovka can sometimes back up, though they are generally manageable.

Self-Sourcing via Mail:

Do not attempt to import generic PrEP via mail from outside the EU. Czech customs authorities strictly enforce pharmaceutical import laws. Packages without proper permits will be seized, and you may face fines.

Never start PrEP without a negative HIV test. Taking PrEP while unknowingly HIV-positive will create drug-resistant HIV. If you somehow source PrEP privately, a 4th-generation lab test is non-negotiable before taking the first pill.

What Happens After

To remain on the subsidized PrEP program, you must return to your HIV Centrum every three months for monitoring. Missing these appointments can interrupt your reimbursement.

The quarterly visit includes:

• HIV test
• Three-site STI screen (throat, rectum, urethra). Always ensure they swab all three sites, as chlamydia and gonorrhea often hide asymptomatically in the throat or rectum.
• Kidney function check

The Centrum handles all of this, and the tests are covered by your insurance.

What's Available

• Daily Oral PrEP: Generic TDF/FTC. The standard option.
• On-Demand (2-1-1): Event-based dosing (2 pills before sex, then 1 a day for two days after). Many Czech HIV specialists are familiar with this. It reduces your overall copayment costs if you don't have sex frequently.
• Injectable (Apretude): Approved by the EU, but as of 2026, it is not yet widely available or subsidized by public health insurance in Czechia.

The Routes Compared