Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM)

The Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) is one of the most prestigious specialized medical institutions in Central Europe, located in Prague, Czech Republic. Founded in 1958, IKEM has established itself as a world leader in organ transplantation, cardiovascular medicine, and metabolic disease treatment. With 700 beds and a highly specialized medical team, the institute performs some of the most complex medical procedures in Europe and attracts patients from across the continent and beyond. IKEM holds dual accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI) and the Czech national accreditation body SAK, confirming its adherence to the highest international standards of patient safety, clinical quality, and healthcare governance. The institute is also a designated Centre of Excellence by the European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) and participates in Eurotransplant, the international organ exchange organization. The Organ Transplant program at IKEM is the cornerstone of the institution and one of the largest and most successful in Europe. The institute performs kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, lung, and combined organ transplants. IKEM has performed over 6,000 kidney transplants, more than 1,500 liver transplants, and over 800 pancreas transplants since the program's inception. The institute pioneered simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation in the Czech Republic and maintains outcomes comparable to the world's best transplant centers. Living donor programs for kidney and liver transplantation are well established, and the institute participates in paired kidney exchange programs across Europe. The Cardiac Sciences department is among the most advanced in Central Europe, offering comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services. The department performs coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve surgery (including minimally invasive approaches), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), mechanical circulatory support with ventricular assist devices (VADs), and heart transplantation. The interventional cardiology unit performs over 3,000 coronary interventions annually, including complex chronic total occlusion (CTO) procedures and structural heart interventions. Electrophysiology services include catheter ablation for complex arrhythmias, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement. Gastroenterology and Hepatology at IKEM are nationally and internationally recognized, with expertise in liver disease management, hepatitis treatment, inflammatory bowel disease, advanced endoscopic procedures (ERCP, EUS, endoscopic submucosal dissection), and preparation for liver transplantation. The department manages one of the largest hepatology registries in Europe. Nephrology services encompass chronic kidney disease management, dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis), renal biopsy, and preparation for kidney transplantation. The department operates one of the largest dialysis networks in Prague and provides specialized care for rare kidney diseases. The Diabetes and Metabolic Disease center at IKEM is a national reference center for diabetes management, including insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, and islet cell transplantation research. The center also manages obesity through multidisciplinary approaches combining bariatric surgery, endocrinology, nutrition, and psychology. Bariatric Surgery at IKEM includes laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass, and revisional bariatric surgery. The program follows IFSO guidelines and provides comprehensive pre-operative evaluation and long-term post-operative follow-up. Robotic Surgery capabilities utilizing the Da Vinci surgical system are available across multiple departments including urology, general surgery, and gynecology, enabling minimally invasive procedures with enhanced precision and faster recovery times. International patients benefit from a dedicated international patient office with multilingual coordinators speaking English, German, Russian, and French. Services include medical visa assistance, airport transfers, accommodation arrangements, and comprehensive treatment planning. Treatment costs at IKEM are typically 50-70% lower than equivalent procedures in Western Europe, with transplant procedures offering particularly significant savings compared to Germany, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. IKEM is located in Prague's Krc district, approximately 35 minutes from Vaclav Havel Prague International Airport, with excellent public transportation connections.