Karlovy Vary Region plans cross-border healthcare with Bavaria

The Karlovy Vary Region is collaborating with the Bavarian districts of Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge and Tirschenreuth to develop a cross-border healthcare project. The initiative aims to eliminate legal, organizational, and financial barriers that currently hinder residents from accessing medical services on either side of the border.

Funded through the Interreg Bavaria–Czech Republic 2021–2027 program, the project seeks to integrate hospitals, outpatient clinics, and primary care providers. Rather than creating parallel systems, the goal is to connect existing infrastructures to use medical capacities more efficiently. Regional Governor Petr Kubis stated that the objective is to ensure accessible and high-quality care regardless of which side of the border a facility is located.

A critical component of the project involves coordinating with health insurance companies to establish sustainable models for reimbursement and financing of cross-border treatments. Representatives from the Czech Ministry of Health, Bavarian officials, the Karlovy Vary Regional Hospital, and the University of West Bohemia have participated in discussions. A joint steering committee is expected to hold its first meeting in December.