Czechia is short almost a thousand pediatricians: where the shortage is worst

Czechia is facing an acute shortage of general practitioners for children — the current gap already runs into dozens of specialists, and as today's pediatricians retire, the country will need roughly a thousand new doctors in the coming years. This is according to VZP, the country's largest health insurer, along with professional medical associations.

VZP data from early September 2026 shows that Czechia now has 73 municipalities with extended powers facing a critical shortage of pediatricians, out of 206 such municipalities nationwide. The situation is worst in the Central Bohemian Region (10 problem areas), the Ústí nad Labem Region (9), the Vysočina and South Moravian Regions (8 each), and the Plzeň Region (7). Prague, by contrast, shows no shortage at all.

Regions and insurers offer cash and housing

Municipalities are trying every trick to lure young pediatricians. Miroslav Egert, mayor of Bochov in the Karlovy Vary Region, says he's ready to offer financial help, provide office space, and even chip in for renovations. The town previously offered an apartment to a young couple of doctors who planned to open a practice there — though the move fell through for personal reasons, and the search continues.

Insurance companies have also joined the hunt for talent. VZP has launched a scholarship program for young pediatricians willing to work in 68 priority districts — up to 112 doctors could receive the scholarship, with the money going directly to the specialist rather than to a supervising mentor, as is the case with residency funding. The insurer is also offering up to one million crowns to help open a new practice in an underserved area, plus bonus payments for every newly registered patient. Other insurers are co-financing comprehensive check-ups for new patients, training for young doctors, and extended office hours.

What the ministry is doing

The Health Ministry's press office admits the problem has been building for years and has no quick fix. One of the main tools is residency positions, through which the state supports young doctors specializing in the field; funding in this area is set to increase, particularly for underserved regions and specialties. Ministry representatives also note that admission quotas at medical schools have grown significantly in recent years, meaning more graduates are gradually entering the system.

Ilona Hüllová, head of the Association of General Practitioners for Children and Adolescents in Czechia, points out that the country technically has enough pediatricians — the problem is that more than half of newly qualified specialists end up working in hospital pediatric wards, a network she describes as disproportionately large compared to other developed countries. Until primary care gets more staff, the shortage of local pediatricians will persist — and families with children will bear the brunt of it.

Jakub Uher, lawyer for the Association of General Practitioners, points to another factor: young doctors tend to prefer big cities, while in rural areas their spouses often struggle to find work. In some places, the workaround is for a doctor to keep a token office in one village for a symbolic fee while regularly making rounds to several neighboring villages.

Advice for parents: start looking early

Experts recommend starting the search for a pediatrician in the second half of pregnancy — or even earlier in regions with poor access or in fast-growing urban districts. Recommendations from friends, a list of doctors working with your insurance company, and information from the municipality or maternity hospital can all help.

Štěpán Semrad, a pediatrician at MediClinic, explains that at the first checkup the doctor assesses the baby's overall condition, weight, skin color, breathing, heart function, abdomen, umbilical area, hip joints, reflexes, and signs of newborn jaundice, while also reviewing the hospital discharge report and asking about feeding. Difficulties with breastfeeding or noticeable weight loss often show up in the very first days, so waiting until after bringing the baby home to start looking for an available doctor only adds unnecessary stress at a time when quick action matters most.

Hüllová does see some positive shifts, though: in some districts, financial incentives combined with a "team practice" model — where several doctors rotate through the same office — have succeeded in attracting young pediatricians. One example is the town of Telč, where a team practice is already up and running and another new office is about to open.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by denik.cz