One of the important things to remember is that the medical care you receive abroad need not be of the same standard and at the same cost which is available in your home country.
• Private Referrals
Ask your friends or colleagues to refer you to a good general practitioner and a specialist if you are looking for one in particular. Going through a common contact like a friend, colleague or even a relative will help you establish a good rapport with the doctor. Besides that you can be sure of a certain level of service and attention as someone you know has already experienced it and recommends it too.
• Company Physicians
If the company or organization that you work with has an in-house physician then that is a good place to begin looking for quality medical care. Most company physicians may have their private practice or would be happy to refer you to some of their peers.
• Guide Books and Yellow Pages
Invest in a good local guide book and a set of yellow pages. They are an excellent resource for all kinds of information that you may be seeking and in all probability will feature doctors and physicians from the city. Be sure to buy the latest editions so that you have updated contact information.
• Public Places
Most public places like large hotels and city centers have in-house physicians who are available during certain hours or round the clock. This could also prove to be a good starting point in your search for a doctor abroad.
• Local Embassy
Enquiring with your embassy may throw up a few suggestions from the staff. Though they may not recommend anyone’s services in particular the consular staff may know about some good, local doctors and if you are discreet enough may be you will get some valuable tips.
• Government Hospitals
Most countries have fairly good government hospitals and you could visit them to explore the facilities or even go in for a simple examination so that you can decide about the quality of staff and medical attention available there.
• Online Resources
The internet has made finding anything very simple and the same applies to finding a doctor abroad. Here are two excellent inline resources where you can register to broaden your search:
1. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (http://www.iamat.org): Membership to IAMAT is free but they are a non-profit organization so donations are always welcome. The benefits of membership are access to a directory of English speaking doctors in 125 countries and territories, a membership card which entitles you to treatment at special rates at IAMAT physicians, a pre-departure clinical record to facilitate treatment abroad and free publications relating to prevention of diseases and infections.
2. The International Society of Travel Medicine is another organization that offers free information about participating travel physicians on their website http://www.istm.org. The pitfall here is that their list is not representative of all countries.
Whatever source you choose to locate a doctor abroad, here are a few prerequisites that you cannot ignore.
• Read Up and Research
There is no substitute for this and you must read up and research to gather sufficient information about doctors and medical care available in your new country. Online research is simple, quick and within everyone’s reach.
• Carry Your Prescriptions and Medical History
Your doctor in a new country would most certainly require information about your medical history so be sure to carry all your reports, latest prescriptions together with a list of ailments and allergies to facilitate further diagnosis and treatment.
• Language Related Issues
If you are looking for a doctor who speaks English be sure to spell that out clearly to anyone you approach for a reference. Language could either be a bridge or a barrier to procuring good medical attention, which is why you should be specific.
With these tips and resources your search for a doctor in a new country will be simple and quick.
