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Healthcare
in Hungary

If you’re experiencing mild symptoms – such as a slight fever, runny nose, cold, flu, indigestion, cough, or minor aches, you can go to any pharmacy to buy over-the-counter medicine. Pharmacists are qualified medical professionals and can also offer basic health advice.

In Budapest, there are several 24-hour pharmacies available. Please note that some medications require a doctor’s prescription, so be sure to check the requirements in advance. However, many common medications – such as typical cold remedies (but not antibiotics) and pain relievers – can be purchased without a prescription.

Please keep in mind that, whether you are a scholarship holder or have private insurance, you will need to pay for your medicines yourself.

At THIS website you can find pharmacies and locate emergency services based on your location and the type of help you need.

Using healthcare with the social security card (TAJ)

Scholarship holders (including Stipendium Hungaricum, SH Sport, and Diaspora) are eligible for a TAJ card (Hungarian social security card), which gives free access to Hungary’s public healthcare system. With a TAJ card, students can access basic medical services, including GPs, specialists (e.g., gastroenterologists, psychiatrists), dentists, and emergency care in serious or life-threatening situations.

Self-funding students can apply for a TAJ card by paying a fee or may become eligible once they begin a part-time or student job in Hungary. However, those who do not need a TAJ card for work are advised to consider private health insurance instead, as the monthly contribution can be quite high – sometimes exceeding the cost of certain private insurance plans.

Please be advised that you will need your residence permit card to begin the procedure. The International Relations Center supports scholarship holders throughout the process, assisting with application submission. Each semester, an email is sent outlining the exact steps and relevant deadlines.

Note that the process can be lengthy and may take 3-4 months to obtain a TAJ card. In the meantime, you can use private insurance.

The documents you will need to include in your application are the following:

  • Copy of your passport (of the page with your picture and personal data)
  • Valid residence permit (copy of both sides)
  • Accommodation confirmation or address card (copy of both sides)
  • Letter of Award (download it from your application profile)
  • Enrolment Certificate / Student Status Verification Form (not older than 30 days!)
  • Application Form, download it from HERE
  • Letter of Authorization, download it from HERE

If your symptoms don’t improve with home treatment, you should visit your general practitioner (GP). GPs can treat common illnesses, prescribe medication, or refer you to a specialist. However, they have limited working hours and you can only visit the GP assigned to you based on your address.

Most GPs work on a weekly schedule, with appointments available either in the mornings or afternoons on specific days. Their opening hours and contact details are usually listed on the websites of district healthcare centers. This schedule also applies to phone calls and emails – GPs typically do not respond outside their working hours.

Primary care services can be busy, so you may need to call several times or go in person to reach them.

Important: You can only visit a GP if you have a valid TAJ card.

Doctors on duty:

If you need to see a doctor outside your GP’s working hours (e.g., on weekends), you can visit the on-call general practitioner service (in Hungarian: Háziorvosi ügyelet), available in every district. These doctors are not your regular GP, so they may not be able to assist with non-urgent matters like issuing sick leave certificates. This service is intended for urgent cases, and longer waiting times are possible.

Specialist doctors have advanced training in specific areas of medicine – such as dermatologists for skin or cardiologists for heart-related conditions. They diagnose and treat health issues within their area of expertise.

In Hungary, some specialists require a referral (in Hungarian: beutaló) from your GP. After a consultation, your GP will provide this document if necessary. Clinic websites usually state whether a referral is needed. Just like GPs, specialists are also assigned based on your address.

Regardless of whether a referral is needed, you must always book an appointment in advance. This can be done by phone (note that staff may not speak English) or in person at the reception desk. We recommend visiting in person, as they usually need to register your personal details.

To book an appointment, you’ll need your TAJ card, residence permit, and address card – and, if required, the referral from your GP.

Accidents and emergencies

Accidents

If you experience an accidental injury, you can visit one of the Traumatology Emergency Departments, marked with the sign “Baleseti”.

Having a valid TAJ card or private insurance is not required in these cases – you will receive medical examination and treatment even without valid health insurance. However, you will most likely have to pay for the examination and treatment after receiving care.

You should visit Traumatology only for accidental injuries, such as:

  • wounds, fractures, bruises on head/neck/shoulders/arms/wrists
  • chest bruises
  • rib fractures
  • sprains, fractures of the thighs/legs/ankles/feet

Go to the hospital closest to where the injury occurred – not necessarily the one linked to your official address. Please note that not all hospitals have Traumatology departments, so check in advance if possible.

Emergencies

In case of a serious emergency call 112 (general emergency line) or 104 (direct line to emergency medical services).

At THIS website you can find the right hospital based on your location and the type of help you need. You can also use this website to find pharmacies in Budapest.

If you have serious, life-threatening symptoms, go to the Emergency Room (in Hungarian: Sürgősségi) at the nearest hospital. You will be examined even without a valid TAJ card or private insurance, but you will likely have to pay afterward for treatment.

Only visit the Emergency Room with such serious symptoms as:

  • Severe breathing difficulties or suffocation
  • Chest or abdominal pain
  • Fainting or loss of consciousness
  • Sudden dizziness, vision or speech problems
  • Sudden paralysis or movement issues
  • Severe confusion

Waiting times depend on the severity of your condition. For non-urgent issues, expect a long wait.