Before embarking on any trip, I store a photo of my current insurance card on my mobile phone and pack small amounts of over-the-counter medication that I might need. And if I’m traveling with prescription medication, I always pack a little extra in case travel complications unexpectedly extend my trip.
But, sometimes, careful planning isn’t enough to anticipate every medical need. While some medications are easy to pick up at local gift shops (ibuprofen for pain, aloe for sunburn relief, itch cream for bug bites, bandages for cuts and blisters), others may be a little harder to find. The sunburn in this picture was worse than it looks, but the local pharmacist hooked me up with a quick cure.
Pharmacies. In many countries, you can skip the doctor visit and go straight to the pharmacy. And the retail prices are often so reasonable that there’s no reason to break out the insurance card. On a recent trip to Dublin, the pharmacist provided me with prescription-grade medication to tame my troublesome chest cold and salvaged my trip!
And a family trip to Egypt was saved by a small village pharmacist who diagnosed my brother’s ear infection and loaded us up with antibiotics [How and When to Hire a Guide]. The medications on each of these visits each cost less than $20.
Hospitals. Despite my many travels, I’ve only had one occasion to visit a foreign hospital, and it was a public Muslim hospital in Doha, Qatar. The experience left me with a mixture of sincere gratitude and extreme culture shock.
While playing a family game of basketball at the Banana Island Resort, my father lost his balance and broke his collarbone. The resort nurse immediately arranged for a return ferry to the mainland, along with an ambulance for hospital transport.
But here is where the culture shock set in. Because this was a Muslim country, I could not accompany my father in the ambulance nor could I be with him during his emergency room visit. There are separate hospitals for men and women in Qatar (and separate private hospitals for the wealthy, for that matter).
My brother, who was 13 at the time, had to take charge. He accompanied my father in the ambulance and handled all communications with the medical staff while I waited in an approved waiting area for reports on his injury.
I had come to the hospital straight from a resort. I was wearing a beach cover up and flip flops while the other women visitors were fully covered in burkas. But we were all there for the same reason----to ensure our loved ones were getting proper care. In fact, this beach blonde made friends with some local teens over chai lattes at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the lobby. Crazy! We’re really all the same inside—we just need caffeine under stressful situations.
And here is where the sincere gratitude set in. My father received excellent medical care, x-rays and pain medication to get us through our return flight (which was scheduled for the next morning). And although we had to wait a few minutes for the prescription to be filled (as it coincided with evening call to prayer), we left the hospital with a bill of $6. Incredible!
Quick PSA. In addition to physical health, make sure you’ve anticipated mental and sexual health needs. Availability of certain products may be less accessible in more conservative countries. Remember to pack your Xanax and condoms, if you think you’re going to need them!
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