Health Tips When Moving to Bahrain

Please read the official Covid-19 Information page from the Ministry of Health

In Bahrain there is at least one modern hospital in all major cities and towns. Hospitals are manned by a well-trained staff and are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, along with a high doctor-patient ratio.

Healthcare in Bahrain

Expats relocating to Bahrain will be glad to hear that the country’s public healthcare system provides free and low-cost healthcare to its nationals. Hospitals also offer excellent antenatal and obstetrics services, both public and private.

Free healthcare for expatriates used to be one of the perks of working in Bahrain but this arrangement was dispensed with in the year 2008. However, a good health insurance plan should have your medical concerns covered.

The country’s small population has a variety of public and private healthcare facilities to choose from. The hospitals and clinics are manned by local doctors and staff and a number of foreign doctors and healthcare professionals who have been trained in their home countries. However, those seeking specialized treatments still prefer to go abroad.

Hospitals & Clinics

Scan the yellow pages and telephone directories to get a list of hospitals and clinics (general practitioner’s surgery) to begin with and then show it to your friends and colleagues to get a recommendation. Public and private hospitals together with military establishments boast of medical facilities ranging from luxurious to acceptable. Costs for treatment and accommodation vary depending on whether the hospital facilities are modest or luxurious. All major hospitals and clinics are open 24 hours a day and Arabic and English are both widely spoken.

Medicines & Pharmacies

Bahrain has a number of pharmacies which are well stocked with medical supplies and are open 9:30am to 1pm and from 4:30 to 8:30pm or later, Saturdays to Thursdays. Medicines for cough, cold, painkillers and eye drops are available at supermarkets across the country. 

Do not forget to carry your prescription and always remember the content and formula as many a time just the brand name would make it difficult to procure it. This is because brand names vary according to manufacturers in different countries.

Antibiotics can no longer be purchased over the counter and the Ministry of Health has banned the sale of tranquilizers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills in Bahrain.

Doctors

Doctors and dentists in Bahrain are allowed to advertise and you will be able to find many in the yellow pages. However, a recommendation by friends and colleagues is still the best way to go. A routine diagnostic visit to a doctor costs around 60$ with extra charges for any additional tests while a visit to a specialist could run into hundreds of dollars.

If you are using public healthcare services then an appearance in person rather than a telephone appointment is recommended. Surgery hours are 9am and 1pm, and from 5 to 8:30pm and same day appointments can be scheduled. Doctors in the private sector usually give appointments within 24-72 hours of making the request.

Most dentists in Bahrain are from Britain, Russia and Scandinavia and have their own work rooms and technicians which ensure speedy treatment. Costs for treatment do not vary much due to the element of competition. 

Emergency Services

Ambulance services are available and most police and emergency services are equipped with helicopters. However, both are used mainly in case of road accidents. In case of an emergency the best way to reach a hospital or medical facility is your own transportation. Calling a taxi is the next best thing to do. Always keep a list of emergency numbers you can call and a map of the shortest route to a hospital or medical facility with you.

Emergency contact numbers:

Police: 999

Fire department: 997

Ambulance: 998

Hospitals:

American Mission Hospital - 253447 
Psychiatric Hospital - 17279300 17270637 
Geriatric Hospital - 17320969 17334356 
Maternity Hospitals in Bahrain:
Jidhafs Maternity Hospital - 17550022 17554131 
Muharraq Maternity Hospital - 17322911 17320095 
East Riffa Maternity Hospital - 17771258 
Sitra Maternity Hospital - 17730758 
Western Region Maternity Hospital -17631627

Common Health Risks

Alcoholism and depression caused by loneliness are common problems that expats encounter while overseas. Other issues experienced by expats include respiratory problems, which are usually caused by excessive sand and dust due to the weather conditions and increase in construction activities. Dehydration and sun strokes due to long hours of physical exertion in the outdoors in summer can both prove to be fatal conditions if not treated properly.