Her studies in Germany, together with her personal and professional experiences, led Kiki Hahner to establish Medical privé, bringing together world-class medicine, a highly personalised approach and professional service. “It is a concept built above all on trust and discretion,” says the innovative entrepreneur, whom we spoke to about her vision.
Kiki, what inspired you to establish Medical privé? Was there a particular story or experience that convinced you people needed a different approach to healthcare?
The idea wasn’t mine alone. It emerged from two people with entirely different professional backgrounds – medicine and management – who nevertheless share a profound understanding of life, a common approach to challenging health situations and a similar perspective on healthcare itself. We transformed these shared values into a concept that remains unique.
The project is rooted in our own experiences and significant life events. In my case, it wasn’t simply my intense personal experience of the healthcare system as a patient, but also my experience of supporting other patients, most notably my own mother. After a sudden rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, she was abruptly torn away from a very active life. For months, we fought together for every breath, every movement, every word – every tiny step towards recovery. Sadly, we ultimately lost that battle to sepsis. It changed everything.
Through my constant involvement with the medical world, I quickly realised that the Czech Republic possesses extraordinary expertise, knowledge, cutting-edge technology and, above all, remarkable people who are both capable of and committed to achieving exceptional results. Yet much of this potential remains hidden because appropriate, targeted communication is lacking – whether with the public, within the healthcare system, between patients and doctors, or internationally.
The Czech Republic is often presented merely as a more affordable alternative to expensive medical procedures in other countries, despite its potential extending far beyond that. At the same time, patients frequently lack clear guidance through the healthcare system, information about treatment options or support in finding the right solution. Medical privé fills this gap. We provide clients with access to the best available care options, personalised guidance in several languages, a comprehensive overview of potential treatments, alternatives, clinics and specialists, and, above all, clear communication that respects both the client and medical professionals.
Medical privé is built around a personalised, holistic approach. How would you describe the philosophy behind the project to someone hearing about it for the first time?
Our philosophy is very simple: we take a genuine interest in the client’s overall circumstances. Rather than focusing solely on their immediate medical concerns, we see the person as a whole – their lifestyle, worries, personal circumstances and even issues they might never mention during a routine medical consultation. Our relationships with clients are authentic, and thanks to our experience and genuine commitment, we can offer every individual highly personalised and, above all, effective support.
Your work goes beyond addressing medical issues to encompass clients’ emotional wellbeing, concerns and personal circumstances. Why do you believe it is so important to see the person as a whole?
We believe that everyone has been, is, or will at some point be a patient. Hospitals and medical practices are places where people often become acutely aware of the very foundations of their existence – just how essential physical and mental health are, and how vulnerable we truly are. Such experiences frequently bring previously hidden anxieties and fears to the surface. This is why we consider personal guidance and a deep sense of trust to be essential elements of care. We know that a person’s mindset, both towards their health circumstances and towards life itself, plays a fundamental role in recovery and in living with long-term health conditions.
Many people experience anxiety about medical examinations, hospitals or even receiving a diagnosis. How do you help clients overcome these often invisible barriers?
We communicate with our clients openly and without unnecessary formality. Fear and other emotional responses are not abstract concepts to us. They are experiences we know well and understand. This understanding enables us to have open conversations and recognise when someone needs additional or different forms of support. Knowing that they are receiving the best possible care, that they are not facing their situation alone and that complete discretion is assured gives our clients the confidence they need to navigate even the most challenging periods of their lives with us by their side. The feedback we receive in this regard is genuinely moving.
Your service encompasses not only connecting clients with doctors and specialists, but also arranging appointments, managing communication, providing personal assistance and coordinating follow-up care. What does the process look like, from the initial contact through to finding a solution?
Our clients come to us exclusively through personal recommendations, something we value enormously. They approach us with a wide range of needs, from acute but non-life-threatening conditions – including accompaniment to an emergency department whenever necessary – to chronic health issues, preventive medical examinations and other healthcare services. We begin with a medical consultation in a comfortable environment, whether at the client’s home or another setting dedicated to wellbeing.
We take the time to listen, ask the right questions and understand even what often remains unspoken. The following day, the client receives a detailed plan that already includes specific proposed appointment dates. From that point onwards, we remain by their side throughout the entire process. We ensure maximum comfort and peace of mind during visits to specialists and other medical examinations. Clients do not have to worry about scheduling appointments, transport, medical records, follow-up communication or coordinating their care. We also help them fully understand their diagnosis, treatment options, alternatives and the implications of different decisions. For international clients, this goes far beyond translation. It is about gaining a thorough understanding of their medical situation and receiving professional support at every stage of the journey. We remain available to our clients whenever they need us, and we consider our work complete only when we have found a suitable solution together – whether that means recovery, optimising long-term treatment, prevention or other measures that support quality of life.
Medical privé operates without membership fees, using a pay-per-use model. Why did you choose this approach, and who is the service designed for?
We are not a private clinic, and we operate entirely independently. For each client, we select hospitals, clinics, specialists and other healthcare providers according to their individual needs, compatibility, medical expertise and approach to treatment. We believe the pay-per-use model offers considerable advantages for clients while accurately reflecting our independent position in the market.
Our services are available to anyone who wishes to take a focused, effective and comfortable approach to managing their health. We primarily work with people who could benefit from the exceptional quality of healthcare available in the Czech Republic but are unfamiliar with the local options or unsure how to navigate the system. We also support those for whom professional guidance can make the often demanding journey towards resolving a health issue easier and more reassuring.
You also work with an international clientele and provide services in five languages. What kinds of personal stories and needs do people most often bring to you?
The language someone speaks or the culture they were born into ultimately makes no difference. We all experience joy and happiness, but also anxiety, uncertainty and fear. Health is fundamental to everyone, and we are becoming increasingly aware that prevention and appropriate treatment can make a significant contribution to living longer in the best possible health. That is why people come to us with such a diverse range of healthcare needs. What they all have in common is the assurance that their personal stories and circumstances will always be handled with the utmost discretion, respect and protection of privacy, and will never be shared, even in anonymised form.
You often speak about combining professionalism with humanity. Do you believe this approach will become one of the defining directions of healthcare in the future?
Thank you for asking this question. In many professions today, there is an increasing emphasis on sales, self-promotion, contrived marketing and artificial intelligence. We believe, however, that healthcare is not the place for such priorities. Healthcare should be founded on authenticity, genuine concern for people and humanity, combined with the highest standards of professionalism. Artificial intelligence should be used as a supporting technology, not as a substitute for medical expertise. It is a profoundly humane principle not to subject patients to unnecessary treatments or medication driven by financial interests, systemic pressures or the pursuit of profit.
Equally important is the need to care for healthcare professionals themselves, many of whom routinely work far beyond their limits. At Medical privé, we actively integrate this philosophy into our work in a variety of ways.
If you could change one thing about today’s healthcare system to help patients feel more heard, safer and genuinely cared for, what would it be?
We all know that healthcare is an extremely complex system and that meaningful change requires action on many different levels. However, when it comes to helping patients feel truly heard and cared for, I believe there is one simple thing that requires neither financial investment nor major systemic reform: making people feel genuinely seen. Our experience shows that simply recognising and understanding another person – whether it is a doctor understanding a patient or a patient understanding a doctor – creates a sense of trust and security. This has a positive impact not only on a patient’s recovery but also on the working environment within healthcare.
Looking beyond business and medicine, who or what gives you strength and inspiration today, particularly when your work involves such profound aspects of other people’s health and personal lives?
I would never presume to claim responsibility for other people’s health or life stories. What we can do, however, is create opportunities and pathways that, without our assistance, might be difficult, exhausting or entirely inaccessible for many patients. We remain actively involved and by their side until every relevant option has been explored and the most suitable solution has been found. This process itself is an important source of energy and motivation for us. Another source is an openness to life and the belief that there is at least a small element of happiness or meaning to be found in everything, even when we cannot see it at first. Yet the deepest source of strength, the place from which everything else begins, is awareness of my own breath.
Kiki Hahner is known for her work as a consultant and matchmaker. She studied business management and marketing at universities in Germany and has worked in the media, business consulting, communications agencies, clinics and social institutions. Holding both Czech and German citizenship, she speaks several languages. In 2025, she co-founded Medical privé with her medical partner. Contact: bienvenue@medicalprive.cz
