Most people visit a doctor when something hurts or they are not feeling well. Prevention, however, works in the opposite way – its purpose is to identify health risks and certain diseases before they begin to cause noticeable symptoms. A regular preventive checkup is therefore not only for people who already have health concerns. It is an opportunity to assess your overall health, identify potential risk factors, and, if necessary, begin further testing or treatment at an early stage.
What is checked during a preventive checkup?
In the Czech Republic, adults are entitled to a general preventive checkup with their GP once every two years. Since January 2026, the scope of these checkups has become more comprehensive, with greater consideration given to the patient's age, health status, and individual risk factors. The doctor may assess your family medical history and lifestyle, check blood pressure and other physical parameters, and evaluate the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, or kidney disease. Prevention also includes checking your vaccination status and participation in recommended screening programmes.
Preventive care may include:
- regular blood pressure checks,
- laboratory tests based on age and health risks,
- monitoring blood sugar and blood lipid levels,
- checking vaccination status,
- assessment of family history and other risk factors,
- screening examinations aimed at the early detection of certain cancers and other serious diseases.
The specific range of examinations may vary from person to person. Individual risk assessment is an important part of modern preventive care.
Screening: Why Does It Matter Even Without Symptoms?
One of the most important parts of preventive care is screening – examining people who appear healthy in order to detect certain diseases at an early stage. In the Czech Republic, population screening programmes are currently available for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer, among others. The specific recommendations and eligibility criteria vary according to age, sex, and other risk factors.
The fact that you have no symptoms is precisely why you should not postpone recommended screening. Some serious diseases can develop without noticeable symptoms in their early stages, and detecting them early can have a significant impact on subsequent treatment. If you are unsure which preventive and screening examinations are recommended for you, a visit to your GP can be a good place to start.
Prevention does not mean undergoing dozens of examinations. It is primarily about knowing your risks, attending regular checkups, and taking advantage of examinations recommended for your age and health status. Waiting for the first symptoms is not the only way to take care of your health.
Sources:
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND STATISTICS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. General Preventive Checkups for Adults [online]. Prague: ÚZIS ČR, 2026 [cit. 2026-08-14]. Available at: https://www.nzip.cz/clanek/441-vseobecne-preventivni-prohlidky-dospelych
GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Changes to the Regulation on Preventive Checkups [online]. Prague: VZP ČR [cit. 2026-08-14]. Available at: https://www.vzp.cz/poskytovatele/informace-pro-praxi/poradna/zmeny-ve-vyhlasce-o-preventivnich-prohlidkach
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND STATISTICS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Screening Programmes for Adults – Overview [online]. Prague: ÚZIS ČR, 2026 [cit. 2026-08-14]. Available at: https://www.nzip.cz/clanek/2222-pruvodce-screeningovymi-programy
INSTITUTE OF HEALTH INFORMATION AND STATISTICS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC. Cancer Prevention (Screening) Programmes in the Czech Republic [online]. Prague: ÚZIS ČR, 2026 [cit. 2026-08-14]. Available at: https://www.nzip.cz/clanek/24-programy-prevence-screeningu-zhoubnych-nadoru-v-cr
