Services

If you are a foreign student or employee at Trnava University in Trnava, it is important to know how to access healthcare services during your stay in Slovakia. Below you will find practical information on how to obtain health insurance, find a general practitioner, dentist, and other important healthcare services.

1. Health Insurance

For foreign students

a) Students from EU/EEA/Switzerland

• We recommend that students bring their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home country.

• The EHIC covers essential healthcare in Slovakia provided by doctors who have a contract with public health insurance companies.

• For long-term stays (more than 90 days), we recommend considering commercial health insurance that also covers non-standard care (e.g., accidents, dentists, hospitalization).

• It is not necessary to register with the Slovak public insurance system if the student is not employed.

b) Students from countries outside the EU

• They are required to take out commercial health insurance before arriving in Slovakia – a condition for granting a residence permit.

• The insurance must cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and repatriation (recommended).

• The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the studies.

• Students are not entitled to public health insurance unless they are also working or have employee status.

For foreign employees and doctoral students

If you are employed at Trnava University - including doctoral students with an employment contract - you are entitled to public health insurance in the Slovak Republic.

Procedure:

1.Your employer (the university) will register you with one of the public health insurance companies:

• Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP)

• Dôvera

• Union

2.The insured person will be assigned a Slovak insurance number and later also an insurance card.

3.The employee is entitled to full health care in Slovakia and the EU.

Important:

• After starting employment, we recommend checking which insurance company the university has registered you with.

• If your insurance company or employment status changes, you must report this change.

Online registration (if you are registering individually):
Application to VšZP - public health insurance

2. How to find a general practitioner

Anyone who lives in Slovakia long-term should have a contracted general practitioner (GP). This doctor is the first point of contact for most health problems.

Procedure

1.Find a doctor in Trnava who is accepting new patients.

• You can find a doctor online (e.g., www.zzz.sk or through recommendations – please note that the website does not have an English language version, so use a translator).

2.Check whether they have a contract with your health insurance company.
3. Contact the clinic and arrange your first visit.
4.Please bring the following documents with you for your visit:

• your passport or ID card,

• proof of health insurance,

• confirmation of study or employment (if necessary).

3. Dental Care

Dental treatment is not always fully covered by public insurance, so you will have to pay for some procedures yourself.

How to proceed:

• Find a dentist who accepts new patients.

• Check the prices for common procedures (preventive check-up, filling, tooth extraction, etc.).

• Some clinics offer services in English.

4. Emergency and Urgent Care

If you need urgent medical assistance, you can visit:

• Emergency room for adults: Trnava University Hospital - Starohájska 2, Trnava

• Emergency room for children: Same address, pediatric emergency department

• Dental emergency: Information published on the Trnava city website or at the hospital

In case of serious life-threatening situations, call the emergency number 112.

5. Other Useful Links and Contacts

• Trnava University Hospital

• City of Trnava – Health Services

6. Assistance at university

If you need help registering with a doctor or arranging insurance, please contact:

• Department of International Relations and Mobility

• Faculty Coordinator for International Students and Staff

If you want to have all types of stores within easy reach, make sure to visit one of the shopping centres in Trnava, where you’ll find not only groceries, but also clothing stores, electronics shops, and many other services.

City Arena

The largest shopping centre in Trnava, structurally connected to the Anton Malatinský Football Stadium — home of the Spartak Trnava club. In addition to a wide range of shops, you’ll find several cafés, a food court, a Cinemax multiplex cinema, and a FitUp fitness centre.

OC MAX

The first modern shopping centre in Trnava, OC MAX offers a slightly smaller selection of stores compared to City Arena. However, you can still find a cinema, a food court, and several sports and fashion shops here.

Jednota Department Store

A multifunctional department store that has become a local landmark. Opened during the socialist era, it still houses various shops — including clothing and grocery stores as well as small specialized boutiques. You’ll also find here a popular and frequently visited Chinese restaurant.

OC Galéria

Located above the Tesco hypermarket, OC Galéria consists of smaller adjoining stores offering clothing, cafés, and quick snack options. It’s the smallest shopping centre in Trnava, but you can’t miss it if you’re shopping at Tesco.

Online shopping

If you prefer Slovak alternatives to e-shops like Amazon and want access to a wide selection of products, from electronics and hygiene to home goods, you can visit:

• Mall.sk

• Alza.sk

• Heureka.sk