While you will find both public and private healthcare options available in Kraków, it is worth investing in some form of private health insurance as costs can quickly add up. The stark contrast in waiting times alone – with public healthcare often involving months-long queues for specialist care versus same-day appointments in private facilities – makes this investment worthwhile for most expats.

EU citizens can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access state healthcare here during a short-term visit. UK citizens can use their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC for UK citizens post-Brexit.

Public healthcare in Poland is adequate, but if you can afford to do so, you may want to utilise the private system, which affords you better facilities and shorter waiting periods. Nearly 80 percent of locals who can afford it choose private care for this very reason, with physician surveys highlighting the efficiency of on-site service as a major advantage.

Although medical facilities in Kraków are of a decent standard, they are perhaps not quite up to those you might find in Western Europe or North America. Language barriers can also be an issue in public facilities, while private healthcare centres more commonly employ English-speaking staff.

Healthcare and Medical Insurance in Poland

Here is a list of the most prominent healthcare facilities in Kraków.

Hospitals in Kraków

healthcare professional in a hospital

John Paul II Hospital

Website: www.szpitaljp2.krakow.pl 
Address: Prądnicka 80, 31-202 Kraków

Brothers Hospitallers Hospital

Website: www.bonifratrzy.pl/szpital-krakow 
Address: Trynitarska 11, 31-061 Kraków

University Hospital

Website: www.su.krakow.pl 
Address: Mikołaja Kopernika 23, Kraków

Szpital Dworska

Website: www.dworska.pl 
Address: Dworska 1B/LU1, Kraków

What do expats say about the healthcare system in Kraków?

"Healthcare is granted by the state as long as your employer pays NFZ. That grants you rights to the public hospitals and clinics. If you work in a corporation, you will also have to choose a private medical care clinic. There are a couple but I believe the best one is Medicover. They have doctors that speak English (and other languages) and an app, so you can do everything online. You can have a doctor call you or you can go to the office. They provide good care.

When I was pregnant I did all my check-ups at Medicover, but I chose to deliver in a public hospital and I received really good care. I’ve had good experiences with Szpital Zeromski and Narutowicza here in Kraków."

Learn about Anda, a Romanian expat, in her expat interview about life in Kraków.

Further reading

►See Healthcare in Poland for a more extensive overview of healthcare in the country

►Education and Schools in Kraków is essential reading for expat parents moving to the city

Are you an expat living in Krakow?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Krakow. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute, or fill in our expat interview form to be featured.