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There are no private
health clinics or physicians in Bhutan, but all district headquarters towns
have a hospital, and will accept travelers in need of medical attention. The
best facility is the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital in
Thimpu. It has general physicians and several specialists, labs and
operating rooms. Treatment is free, even for tourists. If you are seriously
ill or injured you should consider evacuation to the excellent medical
facilities in Bangkok.
The main health concerns in Bhutan are similar to those in other south Asian
destinations: the relatively high risk of acquiring travelers' diarrhea, a
respiratory infection, or a more exotic tropical infection. If you go
trekking, there are also risks associated with accidents and altitude
sickness. You need to ascend slowly and take time to rest above 3000 meters.
Insurance
A travel
insurance policy that covers theft, loss and medical treatment is highly
recommended. Make sure the insurance covers the activities that you will be
undertaking during your stay in Bhutan such as trekking or river-rafting.
Immunization
Bhutan does
not require any particular immunization for your visit. Cholera, Meningitis,
Tetanus & Diphtheria, Typhoid and Gamma Globulin are some of the
vaccinations that should be considered for your trip. Please consult your
physician and get a complete check-up before your departure.
Medical Kit
A simple but adequate medical kit can be most useful
without taking much space in your baggage. The following is recommended as
tried and true list of items.
-
Aspirin or Panadol -
for pain or fever.
-
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol).
-
Antihistamine - useful
as a decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the itch from insect bites
and stings or to help prevent motion sickness.
-
Kaolin preparation
(Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil - for stomach upsets.
-
Antacid tablets.
-
Rehydration mixture -
for treatment of severe diarrhea.
-
Antiseptic,
mercurochrome and antibiotic powder or similar 'dry' spray - for cuts and
grazes.
-
Sulamyd 10% eye drops.
-
Calamine lotion - to
ease irritation from bites or stings.
-
Throat lozenges (Strepsils).
-
Bandages and Band-Aids
- for minor injuries.
-
Scissors, tweezers and
a thermometer
-
Insect repellent, sun
block, suntan lotion, chap-sticks and water-purification tablets.
-
Moleskin.
-
Antibodies - useful if
you are traveling well off the beaten track but they must be prescribed.
-
Acetazolamide (Diamox)
or Dexamethasone - if traveling extensively beyond 3000 meters.
General Knowledge
To make yourself an expert on health aspects of
Bhutan would not only be
practical. However, one should have some knowledge on Altitude Sickness (AMS),
Diarrhea, Giardia, Dysentery, Cholera, Hepatitis, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus,
Meningitis, Diphtheria, Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Common sense can often save
lives.
Prevention
the Best Medicine
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health
rule. The number one rule is don't consume the water including ice.
Reputable brands of bottled water or soft drinks are generally fine. Take
care with fruit juice, particularly if water may have been added.
Milk should be treated with suspicion as it is often unpasteurised. Boiled
milk is fine if it is kept hygienically, and yogurt is usually good. Tea or
coffee should also be OK since the water would have been boiled. Salads and
fruit should be washed with purified water or peeled where possible. Ice
cream is usually OK if it is a reputable brand name, but beware of ice cream
that has melted and been refrozen. Thoroughly cooked food is the safest but
not if it has been left to cool. Stomach upsets are the most likely travel
health problem but the majority of these upsets will be relatively minor.
Wash your hands frequently, as it's quite easy to contaminate your own food.
You should clean your teeth with purified water rather than straight from
the tap. Avoid climatic extremes: keep out of the sun when it is hot, dress
warmly when it is cold. Avoid potential diseases by dressing sensibly. You
can get worm infections through bare feet. Try to avoid insect bites by
covering bare skin when insects are around, by screening windows or by using
insect repellents.
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