Czech ILCO was founded in 1993 after formation of the Czech Republic as an association of already existing regional ostomate clubs. At present Czech ILCO includes 13 clubs. In addition, there exist 5 regional organizations, which are not associated in Czech ILCO.

The clubs register about 480 members. This is a little more than 5% of about 8000 patients, who underwent the bowel surgery, i.e. colostomates, ileostomates and urostomates. Any ostomate, who is not a member of Czech ILCO can participate in all its actions.

Standard activities include organization of rehabilitation courses connected with lectures of physicians and stoma therapists and with presentations of distributors of stoma appliances. Each year one or two one-week courses and two weekend courses were held. The courses were financed partly by the Ministry of Health on a basis of a project, partly from contributions of distributors of stoma appliances. In addition, larger regional clubs organized for their members similar rehabilitation courses as well as excursions and lectures.

General Assembly of Czech ILCO met every year. In 2001 new officers of the Board were elected.
Czech ILCO co-operates closely with other organizations of disabled citizens. In 2000 an Advisory Board of physicians was constituted. The Newsletter of Czech ILCO was published irregularly in the last years, however the members were regularly informed by regional bulletins and periodicals published by ConvaTec and Coloplast.

Care of stoma patients. At present products of four manufacturers of stoma appliances (ConvaTec, Coloplast, B/Braun and Hollister - Dansac) are available. The limits of appliances and other means for stoma care, which are fully reimbursed by insurance companies. Ostomates can obtain the appliances in special distribution centres established in larger cities or by mail service operated by the distributors. Pharmacies usually cannot keep larger stock of different types and sizes of appliances.

The distribution centres are usually connected with a proctological ambulance, where ostomates can consult their problems with physicians or stoma therapists. In larger hospitals the consultations are provided in surgical clinics.
Whereas it can be said that ostomates in the Czech Republic receive adequate help from the medical personnel and obtain sufficient amount of stoma care products free of charge, there still exist problems with social rehabilitation of stoma patients. The activities of our association are aimed at improving the situation, in particular by advisory programme carried out by the ostomate clubs.

International activities. Czech ILCO became full member of E.O.A. and I.O.A. in 1994 and took part at al subsequent international congresses. It was also engaged in organization of meeting of ostomates from Central and East European countries and participated at the last event hosted by POL-ILKO in the city of Poznań.

Czech ILCO maintains close contacts with ostomate associations in Poland and Slovakia. Ostomates from these countries met rather frequently,  training courses or at national meetings. Good co-operation on regional level exists between the Moravian-Silesian region and Katowice region in Poland.