Dr. Bence Horváth

Dr. Bence Horváth is a pulmonologist at Semmelweis University Clinical Centre in Budapest — Hungary's oldest and most prestigious medical university and the country's leading academic medical centre. With 18 years of respiratory medicine experience, Dr. Horváth has built expertise across COPD management, severe asthma, lung cancer staging, and interventional bronchoscopy.

Hungary is recognised as a strong medical tourism destination in Central Europe, offering high-quality specialist care at a fraction of Western European prices. Budapest's excellent connectivity and Semmelweis University's internationally recognised training standards make it an accessible option for patients from Austria, Germany, and the United Kingdom seeking pulmonology expertise.

Dr. Horváth is a Fellow of the European Respiratory Society (FERS) — a prestigious designation awarded to ERS members who have made significant contributions to respiratory medicine. He is particularly experienced in endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided sampling for lung cancer staging and mediastinal lymph node evaluation.

Dr. Horváth completed his MD at Semmelweis University — one of Central Europe's most respected medical schools, founded in 1769 — and undertook specialist training in Pulmonology through the Hungarian postgraduate system at Semmelweis University Clinical Centre. He earned the FERS (Fellow of the European Respiratory Society) designation, recognising his significant contributions to respiratory medicine. He has completed advanced training in interventional bronchoscopy including EBUS-TBNA, bronchial thermoplasty for severe asthma, and medical thoracoscopy. He participates annually in the ERS International Congress and undertakes continuing medical education through the Hungarian Respiratory Society and EABIP, keeping his interventional bronchoscopy practice aligned with the latest European guidance.

Dr. Horváth performs a comprehensive range of pulmonary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In interventional bronchoscopy, he performs flexible bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) with transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) for mediastinal staging of lung cancer and diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. He performs bronchial thermoplasty for severe refractory asthma — a minimally invasive bronchoscopic treatment that reduces airway smooth muscle mass. In COPD, he manages mild-to-severe COPD with combination inhaler therapy (LABA/LAMA/ICS), initiates home oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation. He interprets complex pulmonary function tests and manages pleural effusions with thoracentesis, coordinating medical thoracoscopy for undiagnosed pleural disease. His interstitial lung disease practice includes HRCT interpretation and management of IPF and sarcoidosis.

Semmelweis University Clinical Centre provides services for international patients from across Europe, particularly from Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. Hungary offers pulmonology procedures including bronchoscopy, EBUS, and complex pulmonary function testing at significantly lower cost than Western European countries, making Budapest an increasingly popular destination for diagnostic pulmonology services. Dr. Horváth offers video pre-consultation appointments for international patients wishing to discuss imaging or spirometry reports before travelling to Budapest. He consults in Hungarian, English, and German, and the Clinical Centre provides medical reports and consultation summaries in English for international patients requiring documentation for their home healthcare providers. He also accepts referrals from respiratory physicians in neighbouring countries who wish to access EBUS-guided staging not available locally.

Dr. Horváth holds the FERS (Fellow of the European Respiratory Society) — a distinction recognising his significant contribution to respiratory medicine in Europe. He is a member of the Hungarian Respiratory Society and the European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP). He has published in ERS journals on EBUS outcomes and severe asthma management, and serves as faculty at Hungarian Respiratory Society teaching events. He received the Hungarian Respiratory Society's award for excellence in clinical training in 2020 and has been recognised by Semmelweis University Clinical Centre for his leadership in building the interventional bronchoscopy programme at the department.