Healthcare in Hungary
Hungary has a tax-funded universal healthcare system, organized by the state-owned National Health Insurance Fund (Hungarian: Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő (NEAK)). While healthcare is considered universal, several reasons persist preventing Hungarian nationals to access healthcare services. For instance, a Hungarian citizen who lived abroad but is unable to show contributions to another country's healthcare system will not be able to access the Hungarian healthcare system free of charge. However, to the OECD, 100% of the total population is covered by universal health insurance, which is absolutely free for children (all people under 16), mothers or fathers with babies, students, pensioners (everyone over 64), people with low income, handicapped people (including physical and mental disorders), priests and other church employees. In 2022 the cost of public health insurance is 8,400 HUF per month (280 HUF/day) which is the equivalent of $23.69. The healthcare system underwent significant changes which also resulted in improving life expectancy (7.48 years for men and 4.92 years for women between 1993 and 2013) and a very low infant mortality rate (4.6 per 1,000 live births in 2014). According to the OECD Hungary spent 7.8% of its GDP on health care in 2012. Total health expenditure was $US1,688.7 per capita in 2011, US$1,098.3governmental-fund (65%) and US$590.4 private-fund (35%).
Doctors' pay is the lowest among the OECD countries. General practitioners are paid 1.4 times the average wage and hospital specialists 1.6 times.
Hungary is one of the main destinations of medical tourism in Europe. The country leads in dental tourism, its share is 42% in Europe and 21% worldwide. The first medical tourists were Germans and Austrians in the 1980s, looking for cheap and top-quality dentistry services. Since the fall of Communism medical tourism is an emerging business, 60,000-70,000 people visit Hungary for dental treatments every year, earning 65–70 billion Hungarian forint (~$US325–350 million) for the dental sector alone. The cost of medical treatments is between 40% and 70% of the cost in the United Kingdom, United States, and Scandinavia. The most popular medical treatments are dentistry, cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, fertility treatment, dermatology, anti-aging treatment, obesity treatment, addiction programs,, and eye surgery. Plastic surgery is also a key sector, and 30% of clients come from abroad and can save 40-80% on medical expenses. Hungary is home to several medicinal spas (Lake Hévíz, Széchenyi Medicinal Bath etc.), and spa tourism is sometimes combined with other treatments.
Doctors' pay is the lowest among the OECD countries. General practitioners are paid 1.4 times the average wage and hospital specialists 1.6 times.
Hungary is one of the main destinations of medical tourism in Europe. The country leads in dental tourism, its share is 42% in Europe and 21% worldwide. The first medical tourists were Germans and Austrians in the 1980s, looking for cheap and top-quality dentistry services. Since the fall of Communism medical tourism is an emerging business, 60,000-70,000 people visit Hungary for dental treatments every year, earning 65–70 billion Hungarian forint (~$US325–350 million) for the dental sector alone. The cost of medical treatments is between 40% and 70% of the cost in the United Kingdom, United States, and Scandinavia. The most popular medical treatments are dentistry, cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, fertility treatment, dermatology, anti-aging treatment, obesity treatment, addiction programs,, and eye surgery. Plastic surgery is also a key sector, and 30% of clients come from abroad and can save 40-80% on medical expenses. Hungary is home to several medicinal spas (Lake Hévíz, Széchenyi Medicinal Bath etc.), and spa tourism is sometimes combined with other treatments.
