Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo

The Hospital of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo (Nemocnice Milosrdných sester sv. Karla Boromejského v Praze, NMSKB) is a small church-run hospital in Malá Strana, on the slope below Petřín hill. Praguers know it as “Pod Petřínem”. It has been a hospital since 1854, was taken over by the state in 1952 and returned to the congregation in 1993. Today it is the only church hospital in the Czech Republic that provides acute care, and it treats everyone regardless of faith.

At a glance

• Czech name: Nemocnice Milosrdných sester sv. Karla Boromejského v Praze (NMSKB)
• Type: church hospital, for adults
• Address: Vlašská 336/36, 118 00 Praha 1-Malá Strana
• Switchboard: +420 257 197 111
• Reception (24 hours): +420 257 197 319
• Email: nmskb@nmskb.cz
• Acute admission: yes, surgery non-stop; internal medicine
• Maternity unit: no
• Foreigners’ desk: no
• Public transport: tram to Malá Strana, then about ten minutes on foot uphill
• Website: nmskb.cz (in Czech only)

What the hospital is known for

With about 172 beds, this is a hospital on a human scale. It handles around 5,500 hospital stays and 178,000 outpatient treatments a year. Its main fields are:

• general surgery, with a hernia centre and a centre for surgery of bowel diseases
• internal medicine with a gastroenterology and endoscopy centre
• a centre for sports medicine and injuries
• anaesthesiology and intensive care
• rehabilitation, follow-up care and palliative care

Its outpatient clinics include cardiology, neurology, dermatology, geriatrics, a pain clinic and a dental clinic.

Emergency care

The hospital has an acute admission service (akutní příjem) instead of a large emergency department.

• Surgery: acute care 24 hours a day, tel. +420 257 197 319.
• Internal medicine: acute examinations, tel. +420 257 197 340.
• Fee: 90 CZK for treatment out of hours, meaning weekdays from 17:00 to 7:00, weekends and public holidays. It is paid in cash at reception.

There is no emergency service here for children, for pregnancy or for eye problems. In a life-threatening emergency call 155 or 112.

Services for foreigners and English speakers

The hospital has no foreigners’ desk and its website is only in Czech, so it is best suited to people who speak some Czech or can bring someone who does. It is on the same street as the German embassy and a few minutes from the US embassy, which makes it the nearest hospital for much of Malá Strana. If you are not in the Czech public insurance system, ask at reception how your visit will be billed before treatment starts.

Insurance and payment

Patients with Czech public health insurance are treated in the usual way. The hospital publishes price lists for services that insurance does not cover, department by department, on its website. With a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and an ID you are entitled to medically necessary care on the same terms as a Czech-insured patient.

Getting there

• Tram: ride to the stop on Karmelitská street that used to be called Hellichova. Since June 2025 it has two names: Pražské Jezulátko in one direction and Tyršův dům in the other. From there it is about ten minutes on foot, uphill along Vlašská street.
• Metro: the nearest station is Malostranská (line A); continue by tram.
• Entrance: through the gate under the Church of St. Charles Borromeo.
• By car: the hospital car park is small and open daily 6:00–22:00. The first 30 minutes are free, then it costs 80 CZK per hour.

Good to know

• Visiting hours: Monday to Friday 15:00–17:00, weekends and public holidays 14:00–17:00. All visitors sign in at reception.
• Pharmacy: on site, tel. +420 257 197 342.
• The hospital is accredited by the Czech accreditation body for healthcare (SAK), with a certificate valid until November 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be Catholic to be treated here?

No. It is a normal hospital within the Czech health system and treats all patients.

Does the hospital have an emergency room?

It has an acute admission service. Surgical acute care runs 24 hours a day. For children, pregnancy or eye emergencies you need another hospital.

Is there a maternity ward?

No. There is a gynaecology outpatient clinic but no births.

Will staff speak English?

Some will, but the hospital offers no English-language service, so bring someone who can interpret if you do not speak Czech.

Last checked in November 2026 against the hospital’s official website. Phone numbers, opening hours and prices change, so confirm with the hospital before you go.

More: Hospitals in Prague: the complete guide