Overview
Hungary has a tax-funded universal healthcare system, organized by the state-owned National Health Insurance Fund called Országos Egészségbiztosítási Pénztár (OEP). All of the population is covered by universal health insurance, which is absolutely free for all people under 16, mothers or fathers with a baby, students, pensioners (everyone over 62), people with low income, handicapped people, priests and other church employees. Public funding of Hungary’s health system is less than adequate, however, and patients may be required to make a contribution to the cost of medical care. Due to the low wages of medical staff, there is also a tradition of paying gratitude money to doctors and nurses after operations or childbirth. For diabetes, if you don’t control your blood glucose in a proper way (for example, if your Hba1c % is deemed too high) then you cannot get an insulin pump or better insulin covered by insurance. You can get these things prescribed to you, but you will have to pay for them yourself. Continuous glucose monitoring is not free.
What happens if you need to see a doctor?
For non-emergency treatment patients should visit the hospital allocated to their area of residence. Not all hospitals offer the same health-care services, however, which can make finding a hospital which offers the required treatment difficult. The general practitioner (GP) decides whether further specialized out- or inpatient treatment is necessary and will issue a referral. People with diabetes who are already seeing a specialst can make an appointment to meet with their diabetologist every 3 months.
Due to the Hungarian law, an internal specialist who is working in a hospital (cardiologist, internal doctor, diabetologist) can write proposal of diabetes treatment for you (insulin for example). A GP is not able to modify that treatment, but can at least write you prescriptions for the 3 month long medications which you can get from the pharmacy. The care system is complicated, because for doctors there is a license training to become a ”licensed diabetologist”, but you still wouldn’t have the right to modify medications or treatment.
Who decides what doctors can prescribe?
The National Institute of Pharmacy in Hungary ensures that the public is using effective and safe pharmaceutical products that fulfil all high quality standards. The European Medicines Agency is also responsible for the scientific evaluation of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the European Union.
Practically, what is it like to live with type 1 diabetes in Hungary?
Everyone with diabetes can get 200 Euros back once a year. Most insulin and supplies are covered by the health system, but there are some costs. Once you have been living with type 1 diabetes for at least 3 years, you can get an opportunity for an insulin pump. The insurance company will cover the cost of 90% of your insulin pump if it is prescribed by a diabetologist, but you need to pay the remaining 10%. For each insulin pen you need to pay a base price, which is around 1 euro. For newer insulin you also need to pay more. Insurance companies only cover 50% for some.
For kids (under 18) there is a great system in Hungary, where they are well controlled and have the opportunity to participate in kids camps to learn from each other and have fun. Life is harder if you are older 18. Diabetes education is not so well organised, and doctors are really exhausted. They don’t have enough time to explain information for people with diabetes. It is not easy for older people to find a diabetes community to get support, but IDB Hungary (opens in a new tab) was started to support adults with type 1 diabetes and we are growing.
What about getting admitted to hospital?
There is a main hospital in every region, with a so called diabetes centrum. In these diabetes centrums there are licensed diabetologists and diabetes nurses who can anser any questions or difficulties. They can prescribe diabetes medicine for you and other supplies as well. They can decide to maintain or change diabetes therapy. In emergency situations you can go directly to the nearest hospital with an emergency car. If you forgot your insulin at home or lost it, for example, you can go to a diabetes centrum and they will prescribe you
How does diabetes care vary throughout Hungary?
Living in a bigger city or even the capital city of Hungary (Budapest) provides you better care for diabetes, because your travel to reach the special diabetes centres takes less time. If you need to use an insulin pump, you can only get that equipements in the special diabetes centres, which are located in the regional hospitals and usually in the centre city of the county. Hungary has 19 counties and every county has a capital-county city with a hospital in the county centre that provides insulin, insulin pumps, and glucometers. Everyone has access to proper care in every region, although the travel distance can be difficult. Also the pharmacies in the bigger cities are more prepared with diabetes equipment and medication, but once your local small pharmacy knows about your condition and what you will need they are able to order it for you. Finally, if you live in a bigger city you will have more up-to-date access to care than in the countryside.
Thank you to Dr. Daniel Végh in Hungary for helping us with this information! If you live in Hungary and want to get involved in IDB, please email [email protected].
Last updated 2016
