After a two-year break, residents and visitors of the capital of Slovakia will again be able to buy medicine at any time starting September 1, 2026. The Bratislavský samosprávny kraj (BSK) (Bratislava Self-Governing Region) together with the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Comenius University (FaF UK) (Faculty of Pharmacy at Comenius University) is opening a 24/7 pharmacy that will operate around the clock, without weekends or holidays.
Where and When to Find Help at Night?
The new pharmacy will open on September 1 in the building near the Polyclinic in Ružinov on Ružinovská street. It will be located in the same place where the 24/7 Univerzitná lekáreň Pharmacia (University Pharmacy Pharmacia) used to operate, which was closed in summer 2024 due to unprofitability. This is important news because until now, the only 24/7 pharmacy in Slovakia was in Prešov, almost 400 kilometers from Bratislava.
Why Is This Important for Ukrainians in Slovakia?
A 24/7 pharmacy solves the problem for everyone who urgently needs medicine at night, on weekends, or holidays. For example, patients after visiting emergency care, parents with sick children, people with sudden health deterioration, or those who received a recept (Recept) late in the evening. Until now, pharmacies in Bratislava closed at 10:00 PM, which caused serious problems.
Funding and Partnership
The project is not designed for profit, so its operation will be subsidized by the Bratislavský samosprávny kraj (Bratislava Self-Governing Region). The main partner is the Pharmaceutical Faculty of Comenius University (FaF UK) (Faculty of Pharmacy at Comenius University). It will not only help with professional staff but also offer additional pharmaceutical services. The decision to open was made after long negotiations to make medical care more accessible to the region's residents.
What to Know About Other Pharmacies?
Currently, there are on-duty pharmacies in Bratislava that operate until 10:00 PM — following the same schedule as outpatient emergency care. For example, at the National Institute of Children's Diseases (NÚDCH — Národný ústav detských chorôb) in Kramáre, the pharmacy operates daily until 10:00 PM, including weekends. It is located at Limbova 1, block D, on the first floor of the hospital. But none of them operated 24/7.
Bratislava Region Opens a 24-Hour Pharmacy Bratislava Brings Back a 24/7 Pharmacy
