Directory of European Resources > Eurocleft Clinical Network > Registered Clinical Teams > Czech Republic

Clinical Teams in the CZECH REPUBLIC

• Brno
• Praha

Population
Approximately 10.2 million.

Health Service
During the socialist period the Czechoslovak state had a public healthcare system with the objective of free medical care for all, financed by the state. Currently healthcare is covered by compulsory insurance and by the state for children, pensioners and the unemployed. There are a number of healthcare insurance companies with similar conditions, however some of the smaller companies offer better terms for particular types of care, for example, orthodontic treatment. The larger hospitals and University medical departments are maintained by the state and are underfunded in many areas, particularly in the realm of research. Out patient services are mainly run on a private basis.

Cleft Care Organisation
There are approximately 160* new cases of cleft lip and/or palate per year in the Czech Republic. The care of patients with clefts has long been centralised and the system continues despite political restructuring. The cleft centre in Prague was established in 1958 and slightly later a cleft centre in Brno was also set up. Both have a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary team of experienced cleft specialists working at the same location in each. Historically all treatment has been well documented and archived, facilitating the evaluation of long-term results. All cases are registered nationally. All cleft treatment, except orthodontic treatment, is covered by health insurance. If special materials are required for treatment, for example dental implants, the clinician needs to make a formal request to the insurance company, and these will also be covered. Patients can apply to the local social services department to have their travel expenses covered.

Challenges to Attaining the Eurocleft Consensus Recommendations
Cleft service provision in the Czech Republic, except for policy on orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment costs, largely meets the Eurocleft consensus recommendations. However there is neither an official government policy on cleft services or an organisation for parents. As yet there has been no Czech participation in intercentre comparisons or clinical trials.

Future Plans
Goals for the future include raising the profile of cleft care with a view to obtaining governmental policy and financial support, encouraging the establishment of a parent organisation and continuing the commitment to evaluation and improvement of clinical outcome.

* Estimated number of clefts per annum as reported by the national representative for Czech Republic