Krakow - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Available medical care is good-to-great. Modern, clean, affordable. Most doctors will speak English. I have found a pediatrician, dentist, pediatric dentist, chiropractor, and massage therapist that are all fantastic and speak English. For both the chiropractor and the 75 minute massages, they charge less than the $75/max reimbursement limit from FSBP. I had to encourage the massage therapist to raise her rates because she's worth it. Some families have chosen to give birth here at Ujastek hospital and reported very positive experiences. I had an elective surgery at a small hospital, and my doctor and anesthesiologist spoke fluent English, but all intake paperwork was in Polish and all the assistants and nurses only spoke Polish, so I was glad I had a bit of Polish to understand the basics of what they were saying. I think you could find most any care you need here or in Warsaw, but if you need intensive care or long-term treatment you're better off medevacing to London or back to the US to eliminate the language barrier. Note that abortions are complete illegal here. If you are here and in need of family planning services, plan to fly to somewhere else. I chose a long-term birth control implant before I arrived so I didn't have to worry about getting a prescription filled for anything while here. - Jun 2024
The air quality in the winter is shocking. You can see the yellow air and it is disgusting. A lot of people wear masks in winter. We had a lot of respiratory illnesses. - Nov 2016
Medical care for us was pretty good. The doctors we saw were great and the care itself was very affordable. That being said, most facilities appeared not to have been updated much from the Communist era. - Mar 2014
You can find English-speaking doctors,. You just need to ask the right people. - Apr 2013
Medical care is not so good, but improving. - Sep 2011
The recently hired Post Medical Advisor has improved the situation, but there is a lack of English-speaking medical professionals, even for relatively routine cases. Many people have had to be medevac'd to London. The dentist here, for example, is very modern and well trained, but he doesn't speak English, and neither does anyone on his staff. Hospitals are well equipped but look like something from the 1950s, and are crowded with long lines. - Aug 2011
