Healthcare in Belarus – Guide for Visitors and Residents

Mandatory health insurance for visitors

If you are entering Belarus without a temporary or permanent residence permit, you are legally required to hold a valid health insurance policy covering at least €10,000 for the entire duration of your stay.

You can buy a policy at the border crossing or at Minsk National Airport on arrival — costs under €1 per day.
It can also be purchased online before travel from Belgosstrakh (the state insurer) or other accredited insurers.
Border officers may ask to see your insurance policy — carry a printed or digital copy.
Without valid insurance you may be denied entry or face a fine.

Visitors vs Residents

Visitors / Short stays

Mandatory insurance: min €10,000 coverage
Emergency treatment always provided, even without insurance, in life-threatening situations
Access to public hospitals via emergency departments — show passport and insurance
Ambulance: call 103. Staff triage and transport to hospital if needed
Insurance may limit inpatient stays, but discharge timing is set by the attending physician

Residents (TRP / PRP)

Same rights as Belarusian citizens for public healthcare
No insurance required — covered by the public system
Free rehabilitation after serious events: speech therapy, physiotherapy, up to 6 months
Less pressure for rapid discharge — treatment proceeds at physician's discretion
Register with a local polyclinic (поликлиника) at your address to access scheduled appointments

Public Healthcare System

Belarus has a fully state-funded public health system with hospitals and polyclinics in every city and district.
Standards are high, particularly for acute care. Patients report good outcomes even for serious conditions like heart attack and stroke.
Major medical procedures — surgery, cancer treatment, cardiac care — are handled in public hospitals. Private clinics focus on outpatient services.
Emergency department (приёмный покой): available 24/7. No prior registration needed for emergencies.
Polyclinics (поликлиника): for non-emergency specialist visits and GP appointments, primarily for registered residents.

In genuine emergencies, treatment is never refused regardless of insurance or residency status. Belarus law guarantees emergency care for all.

Private Clinics

Private clinics are the practical first stop for visitors and residents alike — fast, cheap, English-speaking staff available in Minsk.

€12–18

Specialist consultation

€5–15

Blood / urine tests

Same day

Test results + prescription

€15–30

Ultrasound / ECG

Same-day appointments for most specialties — no waiting list.
Many top specialists work across both public and private sectors in Belarus and Russia.
Private clinics are common in Minsk and all major cities. Cosmetic medicine, dentistry, and diagnostics are particularly well developed.
Bring your passport. Pay at reception before or after the appointment.

Medications & Pharmacies

Pharmacies (аптека) are on every main street in cities, many open 24/7.
Most medications — including many antibiotics — are sold over the counter without a prescription. Prices for Belarusian-produced generics are very low.
Only controlled substances (psychotropics, morphine, strong opioids) require a prescription.
Brand names differ from Western equivalents. Ask by active ingredient (INN) — pharmacists will find the local equivalent.
If you take long-term medication, bring a sufficient supply from home and carry documentation (prescription or doctor's letter), especially for controlled substances.

Packaging and labelling in pharmacies is in Russian. If you are unsure, show the pharmacist the active ingredient name in writing — most will assist even without a shared language.

Find your medicine in Belarusian pharmacies

Enter a brand name or active ingredient — we will find the equivalent sold in Belarus.

Emergency Numbers

103

Ambulance

101

Fire

102

Police

112

Unified emergency

All numbers are free from any phone. 112 works from mobile even without a SIM card.