Medical Care
The HSE (Health Service Executive) is Ireland’s public healthcare service.
You will be able to get the same healthcare services as people who live in Ireland
Healthcare services for Ukrainian nationals in Ireland
Medical card
If you have a medical card, you do not have to pay to see your doctor or pay for medicines your doctor prescribes. You will automatically qualify for a medical card.
You need the following information to apply for a medical card:
- Your name, address and date of birth
- Personal Public Service (PPS) number
- GP acceptance and signature - if you do not have a preferred GP, 1 will be assigned to you and your family
A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. A PPS number is always 7 numbers followed by 1 or 2 letters. You will get information about how to get a PPS number at Dublin airport. If you are already in Ireland, go to your local Intreo Centre or Branch Office. Staff will help you to get a PPS number.
Find an Intreo Centre or Branch office
To apply for a medical card:
- Complete the application form - make sure all your information is correct.
- Post the completed form to the National Medical Card Unit, PO Box 11745, Dublin 11, D11 XKF3 or email the completed form to PCRS.Applications@HSE.ie
- Download the English application form for the medical card
- Download the Ukrainian application form for the medical card
- Download the Russian application form for the medical card
If you move address, let us know. You may lose eligibility if you do not keep your contact details up to date.
Where a Medical Card is issued without a named GP, the person can attend whichever GP they wish, bearing in mind that the GP needs to be a position to see the person.
Where a GP accepts a person/family with such a Medical Card as a patient of the practice the below form can be completed;
Contact
In a life threatening emergency, call 999 or 112 to ask for an ambulance. These numbers are free to call and work on any phone.
For general information about health services, call the HSE’s contact centre (HSE Live) on 1800 700 700 or 00 353 1 240 8787 (from outside Ireland).
Emergency Multilingual Aid A multilingual, illustrated communication phrasebook, for use by patients and staff.
Understanding trauma and supporting the needs of people fleeing war and / or persecution - directory of resources
For more information outlining where you can access Public Health guidance and resources as part of the HSE response to displaced people fleeing war in Ukraine, click here.
Please also note that health information written specifically for displaced people is available here and is available in Ukrainian, Russian and English. National Immunisation Office resources on vaccinations are accessible here.
12 healthcare messages in Ukrainian with subtitles;
The videos included in the file are:
National Social Inclusion Office – My Health, My Language videos
11 healthcare videos covering the following topics.
1. What is a GP?
2. How do I access Healthcare?
3. Medical Card
4. Dental, eye, hearing
5. Contraception
6. Early Pregnancy
7. Late Pregnancy – prepare for birth
8. Looking after a new born baby
9. Mother’s health after giving birth
10. Breastfeeding
11. Covid-19 and pregnancy
Website with English and Ukrainian videos https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/mhml/
National Immunisation Office – Vaccination video
12. Video explaining the vaccination programme in Ireland. This video covers PCI programme, Schools Vaccines, Catch-up Vaccines, Vaccines in Pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine.
Link for the video https://youtu.be/lJuvjuam3Q8
This is the file with the videos stitched together, they will play one after the other. (file needs to be opened on a non HSE lap-top).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uzdq4y2lqbg1uhn/HSE%20Stitched%20Clip.mp4?dl=0