| Service | 🇺🇦 Ukraine | 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 🇹🇷 Turkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endoscopist consultation | from USD 16 | — | — |
Prices in the “Ukraine” column come from MediUkraine’s partner clinics. The Czech Republic and Turkey columns show the lower bounds of prices published by clinics there (for Turkey, also the Turkish Dental Association’s recommended 2026 tariff), collected in August 2026 and converted to US dollars at the rate on the day of collection. A dash means we could not find a comparable published price. In any country, the final cost is set by the clinic after an examination.
The bile duct and the pancreatic duct open into the duodenum through a single opening, the major duodenal papilla (papilla of Vater). It is through this opening that the endoscopist passes an instrument into the ducts, so the procedure requires no incisions in the abdomen. The method shows the patency of the whole biliary tree: the level and cause of a blockage, the shape of a narrowing, the number and size of stones and the condition of the pancreatic duct in chronic pancreatitis.
The main advantage of ERCP is diagnosis and treatment in one session. The doctor passes the endoscope through the mouth, oesophagus and stomach into the duodenum, injects contrast into the duct through a catheter and sees it on an X-ray. As soon as the cause of the blockage becomes visible, it is dealt with: a stone is extracted, the sphincter is cut, a stent is placed or a biopsy is taken.
The procedure is minimally invasive, so recovery is short: the hospital stay usually lasts 1–2 days, and patients return to their normal routine within a few days. The endoscopists' experience and work according to European protocols make the procedure's risk acceptable even for older patients, for whom open surgery would be much harder.
Choledocholithiasis (stones in the bile ducts) and strictures do not go away on their own: bile stasis leads to jaundice, cholangitis and pancreatitis. So if your urine darkens, the whites of your eyes turn yellow or you have pain under the right ribs, first have an ultrasound or MR cholangiography, and then a gastroenterologist will decide whether an endoscopic procedure is needed.
Travel. Ukrainian airspace is closed, so there are no commercial flights. Uzhhorod lies right on the border with Slovakia and close to Hungary, so patients usually arrive overland from one of these two countries, by car, bus or train.
Visas. Citizens of the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States do not need a visa for short stays in Ukraine. Rules depend on your citizenship, so check your own before booking.
Safety, plainly. Ukraine is at war. Air raid alerts occur across the country, including in Uzhhorod, and an appointment can be interrupted by one. Several governments advise against travel to Ukraine, and while that advice stands, ordinary travel and medical insurance is often void — confirm your cover with your insurer before you commit to anything.
Language. MediUkraine handles correspondence, scheduling, the written treatment plan and the quote in English. The clinic's team communicates with international patients in English.
Payment. You pay the clinic directly. Our coordination service is free of charge for you.
More on travel, safety and insurance: Safety and travel.
The approach is chosen individually, according to the nature of the bile duct disease, the condition of the pancreas, your age, coexisting conditions and the results of previous tests. There are three main options: diagnostic, therapeutic and combined, when in a single procedure the doctor both finds the problem and resolves it.
The diagnostic option is used when the cause of obstruction of the bile or pancreatic ducts needs to be established and the location of stones, strictures, growths or post-operative changes determined. After the endoscope is passed into the duodenum, contrast is injected through a special catheter, and the ducts are clearly visible on the X-ray.
A therapeutic procedure involves treating the problem found at the same time. This may be removing stones from the bile ducts (stone extraction), cutting the sphincter (papillotomy), relieving spasm or placing a stent to restore normal bile flow. Such a procedure is minimally invasive, does not require a long hospital stay and can spare you open surgery.
In more complex cases or when a tumour of the bile ducts or pancreas is suspected, an extended format is used, with tissue sampling for histology or medicines delivered directly into the duct. Ukrainian endoscopists perform these procedures on modern video systems with X-ray guidance, which helps keep the risks predictable.
Which option is needed is finally decided in the endoscopy room, once the contrast has shown the picture of the ducts: for some patients a diagnostic procedure turns into a therapeutic one within minutes. That is why consent to a possible extension of the procedure is signed in advance, together with the informed consent for ERCP.
The procedure does not end with clearing the blockage in the bile or pancreatic ducts: observation follows. In the first hours mild abdominal discomfort, bloating or nausea are possible; this is how the body reacts to the endoscopic procedure. You are advised to rest, return gradually to your usual diet and keep activity gentle during the first 1–2 days.
In the first days it is important to avoid physical overload and not eat heavy or fatty food, so as not to stimulate increased bile secretion. At discharge the doctor gives clear advice on diet, fluids and prescribed medicines. If a stent was placed, its position is checked as planned on ultrasound or CT.
People usually return to their normal routine within 2–3 days. With the outpatient format you go home on the day of the procedure; after more complex procedures, after a short period of observation. For the first days keep calm and avoid hot baths, alcohol, coffee and smoking while the bile ducts and digestion settle down.
Drink water in small amounts throughout the day. If you develop pain, a fever, nausea or jaundice, contact the clinic immediately. These symptoms may mean pancreatitis or cholangitis after the procedure, and the sooner a doctor examines you, the simpler the treatment will be.
A procedure on the bile and pancreatic ducts removes not only a mechanical obstruction: it gets digestion back to its normal rhythm. Restored flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes removes the basis for inflammation, pain, jaundice and poor fat digestion.
The treatment plan is decided individually. Before the procedure the doctor may order blood tests, an ultrasound, MRI or CT of the abdomen to assess the condition of the bile ducts accurately. If needed, preliminary preparation is done: temporary fasting, adjustment of medication and a check of blood clotting.
Your next step is simple: gather a recent ultrasound, blood biochemistry with bilirubin and amylase, and summaries of previous tests. These are what the endoscopist uses at the consultation to assess whether a procedure is needed and how extensive it should be.
When planning ERCP, count not only the price of the procedure itself but also the related costs: accommodation, tests, consultations, medicines and observation afterwards. In Ukraine the total is lower: logistics are simple, and consultations, tests and hospital stays cost less.
Why are prices lower than in EU countries or Turkey?
Firstly, the cost of medical services, consumables and equipment rental is lower in Ukraine.
Secondly, competition between private clinics encourages transparent package offers without hidden charges.
Thirdly, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure shortens the hospital stay, which also reduces total costs.
At the same time, a lower price does not mean lower safety standards: medical centres in Ukraine work according to international protocols and follows standards of sterility, anaesthetic monitoring and observation after the procedure. It is performed by endoscopists experienced in diagnosing and treating bile duct obstruction, pancreatitis and gallstone disease.
Main factors behind the affordable cost in Ukraine:
lower costs of equipment, materials and hospital stay;
transparent package prices without extra charges;
a short observation period after the procedure thanks to the minimally invasive approach.
ERCP is an established procedure, but like any intervention on the bile ducts it carries risks, above all post-procedure pancreatitis, which the doctor will discuss with you in advance. At Ukrainian medical centres ERCP is performed according to European standards of endoscopic surgery, under sedation or brief general anaesthesia, with full anaesthetic support, monitoring of vital signs and strict infection control.
It is performed by endoscopists who specialise in diseases of the bile and pancreatic ducts. With video endoscopes, X-ray guidance and sterilisation systems in place, examination and treatment can fit into one session.
When choosing a clinic, look at the number of procedures performed, the doctor's level of training and patient reviews. MediUkraine assesses the partner clinic on verified data: the specialists' experience, adherence to international protocols, speed of communication and the transparency of estimates.
A practical guide when choosing: ask how many of these procedures the department performs per year, whether surgical back-up is available in case of complications and who looks after you in the first two days after the procedure.
📍 Uzhhorod, Ukraine
A multidisciplinary hospital in Uzhhorod, part of a network of medical facilities in western Ukraine: an outpatient clinic, a surgical centre covering 15 specialties and a 30-bed inpatient unit. Its 52 doctors include professors and PhDs; many operations are done as day surgery, with discharge after 1–2 days.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a minimally invasive method of examining and treating the bile and pancreatic ducts. Through the endoscope the doctor gains access to the bile ducts, sees stones, narrowings or tumours and clears the obstruction straight away.
The first step is a consultation with an endoscopist at the partner clinic, from USD 16. The cost of the procedure itself depends on its complexity, additional tests (ultrasound, CT, MRI) and the length of the hospital stay, so the doctor names the plan and the estimate after the examination. MediUkraine can help you get an estimate before you travel.
Citizens of most European countries and Israel do not need a visa. Check the current entry rules for your country before you travel. MediUkraine can advise on transfers and book your appointment at the clinic.
The procedure is recommended for patients with suspected gallstone disease, narrowing of the ducts, pancreatitis or jaundice of unknown origin. The decision is made by a gastroenterologist or endoscopist after preliminary diagnostics.
During the procedure the doctor can remove stones, widen narrowed ducts, place a stent or take a biopsy. Everything is done through the endoscope, without incisions and with minimal discomfort.
You usually return to normal life within 1–2 days. A hospital stay is needed only for short observation. Digestion settles down within a few days.
The procedure is performed at a clinic with endoscopic and X-ray equipment and full anaesthetic monitoring, and the doctor will explain the possible risks in your case beforehand. MediUkraine will help you choose a doctor at the partner clinic in Uzhhorod.
Tell us what you need: we will suggest a clinic and a doctor and send you a cost estimate.
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