Czech electronic patient record to show test results and eligibility for preventive screenings

The Czech Ministry of Health has unveiled an updated version of the EZKarta electronic health record — the same data is now also available via the eZdraví portal. The service shows patients which examinations they have already undergone, what they are currently entitled to, and what they will become eligible for in the future.

"Everyone will find there what they've already had, what they're entitled to now, and what they'll be entitled to later," said Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO movement). According to him, the app draws on laboratory test results from the past five years.

When cancer screenings are due

Special attention has been given to preventive examinations aimed at early tumour detection. Younger users will be able to see from what age they become eligible for a given screening: colorectal and breast cancer screenings are available from age 45, while prostate cancer screening starts at age 50.

In addition, the updated EZKarta now displays information on blood donation, medical reports and hospital discharge summaries — this data has already been integrated into the system. The Ministry of Health plans to further expand the app's functionality: eventually, it should be possible to issue electronic referrals for examinations directly through it.

Electronic referrals from 2027

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) told a press conference that electronic referrals are the key innovation. "So that we know exactly how long people are waiting for examinations — CT or MRI scans," the prime minister explained.

Such referrals are set to become mandatory from July 2027, though this still requires approval of an amendment to the law on healthcare digitisation. Minister Vojtěch intends to present the bill to the government by the end of September.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz