Foreign nationals now make up nearly six percent of the workforce in the Czech healthcare system, underscoring how reliant the country has become on medical professionals from abroad.

According to data from the National Register of Healthcare Professionals, around 251,000 people were employed in Czech healthcare at the start of 2026.

Of those, almost six percent were foreign citizens. Slovaks form the largest group, while workers from outside the European Union — including Ukraine — account for roughly two percent of all healthcare jobs.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of Ukrainian medical professionals have arrived in the Czech Republic. By the end of 2025, about 2,100 specialists from Ukraine had entered the system, taking up both qualified and support roles.

At present, nearly 1,100 Ukrainian doctors and more than 240 dentists are practicing in the country. Close to 1,500 nurses of Ukrainian origin are also working across hospitals and clinics. Since early 2022, nearly 500 doctors, over 600 nurses and midwives, and close to 1,000 aides and caregivers have relocated to the Czech Republic.

Prague has attracted the largest share of these professionals. More than 500 Ukrainian healthcare workers are employed in the capital. The Central Bohemian, Ústí nad Labem and Moravian-Silesian regions follow.

In several Prague hospitals, Ukrainians account for up to seven percent of total staff. At Thomayer Faculty Hospital in Krč, their share exceeds seven percent. Hospital management has highlighted the role of Ukrainian nurses at a time when the Czech labor market faces a long-term shortage of nursing staff.

The Central Military Hospital employs about 2,700 people, with Ukrainians representing roughly four percent of its workforce. Of those, 83 hold qualified medical positions.

At the General Faculty Hospital in Prague, Ukrainian nationals make up 3.3 percent of employees. However, only around one quarter of them work in specialized roles.

A key obstacle remains the approbation exam, which assesses professional knowledge and Czech-language proficiency. Until they pass it, foreign-trained doctors and nurses cannot independently practice in their fields and are limited to support roles.

Some candidates are currently preparing for the exam, while others who have completed it are waiting for formal approval from the Ministry of Health.

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