X-Ray Cost in the Czech Republic
What you actually pay under VZP and the other public insurers, at the pohotovost, and as a self-paying patient at Czech clinics. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in the Czech Republic?
If a doctor refers you, an X-ray is free — it is fully covered by VZP and the six other public health insurers at contracted hospitals and clinics. Paying yourself, Czech X-rays are among the cheapest in the EU: roughly 210–500 CZK per exam (about $10–23), for example 210 CZK for a chest X-ray at Nemocnice Karviná and 300–450 CZK per region at RTG Stodůlky in Prague. The only routine charge for insured patients is the 90 CZK fee for using an out-of-hours emergency service (pohotovost).
Quick Overview
The Czech Republic runs a compulsory public health insurance system with seven insurers — VZP (Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna, the largest), VoZP, ČPZP, OZP, ZPŠ, ZPMV and RBP. All are funded by the same 13.5% contribution and must cover the same statutory benefits, so a doctor-indicated X-ray is free at any provider contracted with your insurer. Providers are paid from the official list of health services (Seznam zdravotních výkonů), which gives every exam a point value. Self-payers — Czechs without a referral to a contracted site, EU visitors without an EHIC, and uninsured foreigners — are usually billed from the same list at a regulated 1.58 CZK per point, or from a clinic's own price list (ceník). That is why a self-pay chest X-ray costs only a few hundred crowns.
🏥 Public insurance
- Needs a referral (žádanka) from a GP, specialist or dentist
- Any radiology site contracted with your insurer
- No co-payment for covered imaging
- EU visitors with an EHIC are treated the same way
🚑 Emergency service
- Fee for using lékařská or zubní pohotovostní služba
- X-rays on that visit are covered by insurance
- Not charged if you are admitted to hospital
- Uninsured patients pay for the care itself
💳 Self-pay (samoplátce)
- ≈ $10–23 per X-ray exam
- Hospitals often charge 1.58 CZK per tariff point
- Clinics publish their own ceník
- A referral is still normally required
X-Ray Prices in the Czech Republic by Exam: Public vs Self-Pay
Czech providers price X-rays per body region (one exam may include two projections). The self-pay ranges below are compiled from published price lists dated 2023–2026, from the lowest (Nemocnice Karviná, Revmatologický ústav) to the highest (Středisko zdraví Dobříš, RTG Sonografie Praha 6). Private clinics in central Prague and expat clinics can charge more — always check the ceník.
| Exam | Public (with žádanka) | Self-pay (CZK) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (RTG hrudníku / plic) | Free | 210–500 | $10–23 |
| Hand / fingers | Free | 290–350 | $13–16 |
| Wrist / forearm (limb bones and joints) | Free | 400–500 | $18–23 |
| Ankle / foot | Free | 290–500 | $13–23 |
| Knee | Free | 400–500 | $18–23 |
| Shoulder | Free | 330–450 | $15–21 |
| Cervical spine (krční páteř) | Free | 290–400 | $13–18 |
| Thoracic or lumbar spine (bederní páteř) | Free | 340–450 | $16–21 |
| Pelvis / hip | Free | 240–350 | $11–16 |
| Abdomen (RTG břicha) | Free | 350–500 | $16–23 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | Covered when indicated by a dentist | 330–450 | $15–21 |
| Copy of images on CD | — | 50–110 | $2–5 |
| Ultrasound (per exam) | Free with referral | 475–1,000 | $22–46 |
| CT scan | Free with referral | Quoted individually (e.g. CT dentascan 3,300–5,070) | $150–235 (dentascan) |
| MRI (per region) | Free with referral (waits can be weeks) | approx. 8,000–10,900 (+ about 2,500 for contrast) | $370–500 |
Sources for self-pay ranges: Nemocnice Karviná-Ráj price list from 15 August 2025 (chest 210 CZK; abdominal ultrasound 600 CZK; MRI 9,000–10,900 CZK); Revmatologický ústav Praha 2025 self-pay list at 1.58 CZK per point (chest 319 CZK, hand 292 CZK, cervical spine 292 CZK, lumbar spine 343 CZK, pelvis 240 CZK, limb joints 408 CZK, abdomen 411 CZK); RTG Stodůlky Praha 13 (X-ray 300–450 CZK, OPG 450 CZK, ultrasound 475–850 CZK); Středisko zdraví Dobříš, September 2024 (350–500 CZK); RTG Sonografie Praha 6 (chest 500 CZK, limb or spine segment 400 CZK, abdominal ultrasound 1,000 CZK); AGEL Nemocnice Český Těšín from July 2026 (chest 300 CZK, OPG 330 CZK); Prodiagnostika 2023 (MRI 8,000–10,000 CZK, contrast 2,500 CZK); Affidea Praha 2025 (CT dentascan 3,300 CZK EU / 5,070 CZK non-EU). USD at approximately 21.7 CZK = $1 (ECB reference rates, October 2026); exchange rates move.
How Czech Public Health Insurance Pays for X-Rays
Who is covered
- Everyone with permanent residence in Czechia
- Employees of Czech employers, including foreigners
- Self-employed (OSVČ) paying monthly advances
- Children, students, pensioners and others — the state pays for them
- EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with an EHIC for necessary care
Contributions and tariffs
- Rate: 13.5% of the assessment base (4.5% employee, 9% employer)
- OSVČ minimum advance 2026: about 3,306 CZK/month
- Tariff: each exam has a point value in the Seznam zdravotních výkonů
- Self-pay rate: regulated maximum of 1.58 CZK per point for many hospitals
- Seven insurers — same benefits, different contract networks
How to get a covered X-ray
- See your GP (praktický lékař), a specialist or a dentist
- Get a referral (žádanka) for the specific exam
- Plain X-rays are usually done quickly; CT and MRI are booked
- Show your insurance card (průkaz pojištěnce) or EHIC
- The report goes back to the doctor who referred you
Where to Get an X-Ray in the Czech Republic
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- Fakultní nemocnice v Motole — Prague 5
- Všeobecná fakultní nemocnice (VFN) — Prague 2
- Nemocnice Na Homolce — Prague 5
- Thomayerova nemocnice — Prague 4
- FN Brno and FN u sv. Anny — Brno
- FN Ostrava, FN Olomouc, FN Plzeň, FN Hradec Králové
🏥 Private Groups & Clinics
- Affidea — CT/MRI centres in Prague (Chodov) and Brno
- AGEL — hospitals and polyclinics, mainly Moravia
- Penta Hospitals — regional hospitals and clinics
- EUC Klinika — network of polyclinics
- Canadian Medical and Unicare — English-speaking clinics in Prague
- Independent X-ray practices, e.g. RTG Stodůlky (Prague 13)
💡 Practical tips
- Most private clinics are also contracted with public insurers — ask before paying
- Expat clinics usually charge more than hospital price lists
- Regional hospitals and polyclinics are often the cheapest self-pay option
- Ask for a CD or QR code if you need the images abroad
Emergencies, Regional Prices and Self-Pay Rules
🚑 Pohotovost and urgent admission
- Out-of-hours medical or dental emergency service: 90 CZK fee
- Fee waived if you are admitted directly to hospital
- Fracture X-rays are done in hospital urgent/trauma departments
- Life-threatening emergencies: call 155 or 112
📍 Regional differences
- Hospital self-pay lists cluster around the official tariff (≈210–410 CZK)
- Small Prague clinics: about 300–500 CZK
- MRI waiting times are longer outside big cities
- Expat clinics in central Prague may quote higher package prices
🧾 Who pays as a samoplátce
- Patients without a referral to a contracted provider
- EU visitors without an EHIC or other proof of cover
- Non-EU visitors without Czech commercial insurance
- Preventive or "own request" exams not covered by insurance
Guide by Patient Type
🇨🇿 Czech insured patients
- Get a žádanka — the X-ray is then free
- Check the site is contracted with your insurer
- Self-pay (210–500 CZK) mainly for speed or preventive checks
- Keep OSVČ advances paid to stay covered
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss visitors
- EHIC gives the same cover as a Czech insured patient
- Use providers contracted with public insurers
- You still pay the 90 CZK pohotovost fee
- Without an EHIC, expect self-pay tariff prices
✈️ Non-EU tourists and expats
- Long-stay foreigners need komplexní zdravotní pojištění cizinců (e.g. PVZP, MAXIMA)
- Employed by a Czech employer? You join public insurance
- Tourists: pay up front, claim on travel insurance
- Some clinics charge non-EU patients higher rates
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Referral (žádanka) from a doctor or dentist
- Insurance card (průkaz pojištěnce), EHIC or commercial policy
- Passport or Czech ID
- Previous imaging on CD/USB
- Cash or card for self-pay and the pohotovost fee
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: X-ray on the same visit
- Plain X-ray with žádanka: often walk-in or within days
- CT / MRI on insurance: days to several weeks for routine scans
- Report: usually within a few working days
💡 How to save money
- Use your insurance — covered X-rays are free
- Compare hospital ceník pages: tariff-based prices are lowest
- Ask whether a CD copy is included (50–110 CZK extra)
- Dental OPG is covered when your dentist indicates it
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in the Czech Republic?
With a doctor's referral (žádanka) an X-ray is fully covered by Czech public health insurance (VZP and the six other insurers), so you pay nothing. Paying yourself, a plain X-ray (rentgen) costs roughly 210–500 CZK per exam (about $10–23): Nemocnice Karviná lists a chest X-ray at 210 CZK, RTG Stodůlky in Prague 300–450 CZK per region and Středisko zdraví Dobříš 350–500 CZK.
Is an X-ray free with VZP and other Czech health insurers?
Yes. Diagnostic X-rays indicated by a doctor are covered in full by all seven public insurers (VZP, VoZP, ČPZP, OZP, ZPŠ, ZPMV and RBP) at contracted facilities. There is no co-payment for covered imaging; the only common charge is the 90 CZK fee if you attend an out-of-hours emergency service (pohotovost).
Can I get an X-ray without a referral (RTG bez žádanky)?
Generally no. Czech radiation-protection rules require every X-ray to be indicated by a doctor, so clinics ask for a referral (žádanka) even from self-paying patients. RTG Sonografie in Prague states that a valid žádanka is always needed for X-ray, and Affidea offers self-pay MRI only on the basis of a referral. Your GP (praktický lékař), a specialist or a dentist can issue one.
How much is the emergency (pohotovost) fee in the Czech Republic?
Using a medical or dental emergency service (lékařská or zubní pohotovostní služba) costs a 90 CZK regulatory fee under §16a of Act 48/1997 Coll. Any X-ray done on that visit is covered by insurance on top. The fee is not charged if you are admitted to hospital straight from the emergency service, or if you receive material-need benefits.
How much does a private MRI, CT or ultrasound cost in the Czech Republic?
Self-pay ultrasound costs roughly 475–1,000 CZK per exam (RTG Stodůlky 475–850 CZK, Nemocnice Karviná 600 CZK for a full abdomen). MRI costs approximately 8,000–10,900 CZK per region (Nemocnice Karviná 9,000–10,900 CZK in its August 2025 list; a 2023 Prodiagnostika list 8,000–10,000 CZK plus 2,500 CZK for contrast). CT is usually quoted individually; Affidea Praha lists a CT dentascan at 3,300 CZK for EU patients and 5,070 CZK for non-EU patients.
How much is a dental panoramic X-ray (OPG) in the Czech Republic?
When your dentist indicates it, a panoramic X-ray (OPG, ortopantomogram) is covered by public insurance. Self-pay prices are low: AGEL's Nemocnice Český Těšín charges 330 CZK (price list from July 2026) and RTG Stodůlky in Prague 450 CZK, about $15–21.
I'm an EU visitor with an EHIC. What do I pay for an X-ray?
With a valid European Health Insurance Card you are treated like a Czech insured patient: medically necessary X-rays at contracted providers are covered and you pay only the 90 CZK pohotovost fee where it applies. Without the card, hospitals bill EU patients as self-payers, typically at 1.58 CZK per point of the official list of health services; at Revmatologický ústav in Prague that puts a chest X-ray at 319 CZK.
What do non-EU tourists and expats pay for an X-ray?
Foreigners outside the public system pay as self-payers or claim on travel or commercial insurance. Long-term non-EU residents who are not employed by a Czech employer usually need comprehensive health insurance for foreigners (komplexní zdravotní pojištění cizinců) from insurers such as Pojišťovna VZP (PVZP) or MAXIMA. Self-pay X-rays still cost only about 210–500 CZK, but some providers charge non-EU patients more, as Affidea's two-column price list shows.
Does it matter which Czech health insurer I choose?
Not for X-rays. All seven public insurers must cover the same statutory benefits, and contributions are the same 13.5% of the assessment base (4.5% employee, 9% employer). VZP is the largest and contracts with almost every provider; the smaller insurers differ mainly in bonus programmes and their contract network, so check that your radiology site is contracted with your insurer.
How do I get a copy of my X-ray images and report?
Covered X-rays are sent to the referring doctor, usually with a radiologist's report within a few working days. Copies on CD cost a small fee: 50 CZK at Nemocnice Český Těšín, 100 CZK at RTG Stodůlky and Dobříš, and 110 CZK at Nemocnice Karviná. Some clinics, such as Dobříš, also offer transfer by QR code for 50 CZK.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Act No. 48/1997 Coll. on public health insurance, §16a — 90 CZK emergency service fee and exemptions
- Ministry of Health — Seznam zdravotních výkonů (list of health services with point values) and price regulation published in the Věstník MZ (1.58 CZK per point for self-payers)
- VZP and the other public insurers (VoZP, ČPZP, OZP, ZPŠ, ZPMV, RBP) — coverage and contribution rules
- Nemocnice Karviná-Ráj — price list of services not covered by insurance (valid from 15 August 2025)
- Revmatologický ústav Praha — self-pay price list for imaging, 2025
- AGEL Nemocnice Český Těšín — price list valid from 1 July 2026
- Affidea Czech Republic — self-pay information and price list of non-covered services (February 2025)
- RTG Stodůlky, RTG Sonografie (Praha 6), Středisko zdraví Dobříš (September 2024) and Prodiagnostika (April 2023) — published self-pay price lists
- European Central Bank — euro reference exchange rates, October 2026
Last reviewed: October 2026. Self-pay prices vary by provider and change over time — check the provider's current ceník before booking.