Výmenný lístok (referral slip) is a document your family doctor (všeobecný lekár) gives you to see a specialist doctor (odborný lekár). This is a Slovak custom you should know about: without this paper, the specialist might refuse you or the insurance company will not cover the visit.
When it is needed
- For most specialists — the general practitioner first examines you and gives you a referral.
- You can see some doctors without it — usually, these are a gynecologist (gynekológ), dermatologist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, and dentist.
- In an emergency, a referral is not needed — an ambulance will take you without one.
A referral is usually valid for a limited time, so do not delay your visit for too long. Bring the výmenný lístok with you to your appointment — the specialist's reception desk will ask for it. Today, doctors often issue an electronic referral (eVýmenný lístok), and then a paper form may not be needed, but it is best to check beforehand.
