In Czechia, almost all medicine prescriptions are issued electronically — this is the eRecept (electronic prescription). Instead of a stamped piece of paper, the doctor sends you a 12-digit identifier (identifikátor) by SMS, e-mail, or on a printout, and any pharmacy (lékárna) can use it to give you the medicine you need.
The system has been mandatory since 2018 and is run by the state institute SÚKL (Státní ústav pro kontrolu léčiv). Below is how it works in practice: how to get your medicine, how long a prescription is valid, what a lékový záznam is, and whether you can get a prescription without visiting the doctor in person.
When a doctor issues a prescription, the data goes into a central repository called CÚER (Centrální úložiště elektronických receptů). Every prescription is given a unique 12-digit code — the eRecept identifikátor. This code is what links you, the doctor, and the pharmacy.
The doctor can send you the identifier in several ways:
At the pharmacy, the pharmacist (lékárník) scans or enters the identifier, finds the prescription in CÚER, and hands you the medicine. The same prescription can be used at any pharmacy in Czechia — you're not tied to one specific location.
There are two main ways. The first is to give or show your eRecept identifikátor: read out the 12-digit code, or show the SMS, e-mail, printout, or QR code on your phone screen. The pharmacist enters the code and hands over the medicine.
The second way is to use your karta pojištěnce (insurance card, e.g. from VZP) or your občanský průkaz (ID card). You show the document, the pharmacist scans the code on the back of the card or enters the document number — and the system displays all your currently valid, not-yet-collected prescriptions at once. This is handy if you have several prescriptions, since you don't have to read out each code separately.
An important condition for the second method: you need to be correctly registered in the system (ztotožnění pacienta). Make sure the doctor entered your name, date of birth, and address correctly — otherwise the system might not find your prescriptions by document. If in doubt, you always have a backup option: just give the code from your SMS.
A standard eRecept is valid for 14 calendar days, counted from the day after it was issued, unless the doctor specifies otherwise (the maximum is 1 year). Shorter, separate rules apply to prescriptions issued at a pohotovost (emergency service) or during urgent care.
| Type of prescription | Validity period |
|---|---|
| Standard eRecept | 14 calendar days (from the day after issue), unless the doctor states otherwise |
| Pohotovost / neodkladná péče (urgent care) | Until the end of the day following the day of issue |
| Opakovací recept (repeat prescription) | 6 months (from the day after issue), unless the doctor states otherwise — maximum 1 year |
A doctor can set any validity period up to 1 year — for instance, shortening it for a particular medicine. In the past, antibiotics had their own shorter validity period, but now they follow the general 14-day rule. Still, always check the actual date in your SMS, e-mail, or the eRecept app rather than relying solely on the "14-day rule."
If you won't be able to collect the medicine in time, contact your doctor in advance and ask for an extension. Also, if the medicine is out of stock and can't be ordered quickly, the pharmacist can extend the validity by another 14 calendar days through the eRecept system.
For patients with chronic conditions, a doctor can issue an opakovací recept, which lets you collect the same medicine several times without a new visit. The doctor specifies how many times the medicine can be collected. By default, this type of prescription is valid for 6 months from the day after issue (unless the doctor sets a different period, up to a maximum of 1 year).
The lékový záznam is the record of all prescriptions ever issued to and collected by you. Through the official eRecept app, you can see your active prescriptions, the barcodes for the pharmacy, and who has viewed your medication history and when.
You can only log in through Identita občana (the unified state login system). Available methods include:
Since June 2020, a sdílený lékový záznam (shared medication record) has been in effect: with your consent, doctors, pharmacists, and clinical pharmacists can see your medications — which helps prevent dangerous drug combinations. To learn how to set up your state digital identity, see our guide on Identita občana and BankID.
One advantage of eRecept is that you can get a prescription remotely, without going to the doctor's office. This is common for chronic patients who need the same medicine on an ongoing basis. You call or message your doctor (praktický lékař), who issues the eRecept and sends you the identifier by SMS or e-mail.
The decision to issue a remote prescription is always up to the doctor — for new complaints or strong medications, they may require an in-person examination. If you don't yet have a registered doctor, start with our guide on how to register with a doctor in Czechia. It's also a good idea to pair regular check-ups with a preventive examination.
As of January 1, 2026, using an electronic voucher for medical devices — known as an ePoukaz (elektronický poukaz na zdravotnické prostředky) — has become mandatory. Previously such a voucher could still be issued on paper; now it must be electronic. This covers things like glasses, contact lenses, crutches, wheelchairs, and glucometers.
The mechanism works the same way as eRecept: the doctor issues an electronic voucher (with its own nine-digit identifier), and you receive the device from a pharmacy or supplier using the identifier or your karta pojištěnce. There are exceptions where a paper voucher is still allowed (for example, during a serious system failure), but these are rare cases.
If you're new to Czechia, make sure you have health insurance and an insurance card set up — without one, you'll have to pay the full price for medicine. If you're switching insurers, check out our guide on how to change your health insurance company.
No problem. Come to the pharmacy with your karta pojištěnce or občanský průkaz — the pharmacist can find all your active prescriptions using the document. Alternatively, check the code in the eRecept app.
Yes — if you have the prescription identifier (for example, from an SMS or a printout), you can pick up the medicine for someone else. However, using someone else's karta pojištěnce usually won't show their prescriptions without their consent.
No. The prescription is stored in the central CÚER system, so it can be used at any pharmacy in Czechia. If a medicine isn't in stock at one pharmacy, just go to another — the prescription remains valid.
By default, 14 calendar days from the day after it was issued. But the doctor can set a different period, and prescriptions issued at a pohotovost are only valid until the end of the following day. Always check the exact date in your SMS, e-mail, or the eRecept app — don't just rely on the general rule.
Go to the lékařská pohotovost (emergency medical service) — they can issue an eRecept there, but remember: a prescription marked pohotovost is only valid until the end of the following day. If there's a threat to life, call an ambulance.
You don't need a translation to get medicine at a Czech pharmacy — the pharmacist works with the electronic record. A translation may be needed if you're taking medicine abroad; in that case, our translators can help.
If you're looking for a regular doctor to issue your eRecept prescriptions and keep your medical file, check out our list of trusted doctors and dentists. For dental treatment prices, see our separate guide on dental treatment in Czechia.
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