 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saturday, December 21, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Health Tips, Cautions and Contacts (including insurance and english speaking medical contacts) Updated 2024 If emergencies arise in larger towns, foreigners are shuttled to special wards or hospitals and polyclinics better prepared to treat them. In the regions there are nurses or doctors at all administrative centers. Prescription drugs are not easy to find, and the state of the medical profession is filled with skilled staff, but a dearth of specialized medicine, and sometimes disinfectant to clean rooms. Health Guides Overprotective and cautious, but still a source of health advice, is the Consulate of the US Embassy They're not big on protecting you if you are not a part of the "group", but they do offer some medical and insurance advice and other services. Online CDC Advisory Insurance Outside Armenia A good idea is to add or find medical evacuation coverage (also called MEDEVAC). If they have to take you out of the country for treatment, the cost can be high. Several companies sell medical evacuation insurance, and any reputable travel agent should know how to get it. Insurance In Armenia sells medical insurance to foreigners in Armenia. Check with them first, and get a complete policy description and exact terms before buying. Mr. Haik Nikoghosian is the President and CEO. The Consulate at the US Embassy strongly recommends American citizens traveling abroad take out insurance. They can provide some information about companies that service Armenia Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC) SOS International is the largest and best known medical evacuation insurance company for the CIS. Contact them for advance insurance before you come. Others include Jetflight Finnish Air Ambulance Service Delta Consulting (not a part of Delta Airlines) Lufthansa Airlines Medical Kit Your thermometer should not be mercury, since it can explode in pressurized cabins on the trip over. Pepto-Bismol, Band-Aids, alcohol and aspirin can be found in Armenia, but are more expensive than in the West. Antiseptic or alcohol swipes are convenient and pack easily into day packs for outings. Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide and sterile pads can be used clean small cuts. Mercurochrome is a common antiseptic in the CIS, so if you have an allergy, be sure to have a substitute handy. In summertime, bring insect repellent (it is not available in Armenia). Some come in towelettes, which is convenient for carrying around with you. For stings and bites, you can bring Calamine "pink lotion" or a sunburn and itch lotion/spray. Some say antihistamines relieve itches and motion sickness. Sunscreen lotion is available, but the variety isn’t above 12 or 15 UVA protection. If you are sensitive, or want to protect the nose, etc., bring your own total sun block lotion. There are a lot of skin lotions, including the most popular Western brands, on the market in Yerevan. You may also want talcum powder or athlete’s foot spray. In Winter, sniffles and coughs are the most common complaint, and Western cold medicines are not always available. Bring some cold and flue medicine with you. Tablet versions are most convenient, as are the "tea" versions (and the hot fluid can be comfort itself). Bringing your own antibiotic (tetracycline or penicillin) can be useful if you are in the woods, but be sure you are not allergic to it first. For these and all prescription drugs, bring a generic prescription in case you need to have it filled in Armenia. Some prescription drugs can be filled at apothecaries or at the polyclinics for foreigners, but be aware they may use a Russian type which may use different mixtures, or not be as strong as those in the West. Plan on bringing extra with you. Check with your doctor. Also, bring a doctor’s note for all prescription and/or narcotic drugs with you. You’ll need it when you pass customs. Condoms are available at most city pharmacies, but it is a good precaution to bring your own. Women should bring their own contraceptives, as they are not normally found here. Sterile disposable syringes are available at all pharmacies (sealed with expiration mark), at the foreigner clinics and hospitals, but some travelers routinely bring a sterile pack of disposable syringes with them in case they are caught in an emergency off the beaten path, or as a double security measure. They are available at medical supply shops. You do need a note from your doctor to carry them, as customs forbids the import of "mind-altering drug" paraphernalia, and syringes are included and often confiscated. If you have any allergic reactions to drugs, are diabetic, or have another specific conditions which doctors should know before they treat you, bringing a medical I.D. plastic packet that you can have on you at all time. It should specifically list the condition(s), allergies and the alternate treatment or drug required, or the specific drug you have an allergy to. It will help you in an emergency, or if (heavens forbid) you are unconscious. Write in Russian (ATTENTION! Medical Information (in English)". If in another language use the Russian word for that language. All doctors read Russian, and they can find someone to read English, in the larger towns French and German. It’s not a bad idea to list primary problems in Russian as well: Diabetic is Epilectic is Medical Allergies (reactions) is If you wear prescription glasses or contacts, bring spares. Prescription lenses for glasses are sold in State stores, but they do not carry every size, and it can take while to have specialized lens ground. Immunizations Be sure vaccination is recorded in an International Health Certificate, available from your doctor. Some countries provide immunizations from government health centers--travel agents can tell you where to get them. Plan ahead on vaccinations, since some can not be given at the same time. Cholera Protection is good for 6 months only. Not recommended if you’re pregnant Tetanus & Diphtheria Highly recommended as general protection. Boosters needed every 10 years. Infectious Hepatitis The protection is to inject gamma globulin as a prepared antibody that can reduce the chances of infection. It cannot be taken simultaneously with other vaccinations, since it can interfere with the development of immunity. Lasts about 6 months, later doses can be less effective. Typhoid Not a current problem in Armenia, but not a bad idea if you plan to travel to Central Asia before or after your visit. Vaccinations last 3 years and can cause side effects such as pain at the injection point, fever, headaches and a general unwell feeling. See also Common Sense Cautions Food and Drink Water is generally safe to drink. There have been very few outbreaks of giardia in the regions in the last few years and they were quickly contained. Because Yerevan and other cities are under a water ration system (water flows at set hours each day), some foreigners (especially the diplomatic corps) swear to even look at water will cause their intestinal tracts to melt. This is not true. In fact, the problem to your tummy may be from the chlorine they add in cities like Giumri to purify the water (harmless, but it can remind one of lapping at a pool). But to be safe, and especially if you are not sure how clean the glass you are drinking from is, either boil the water first, or drink only bottled mineral water (from the bottle), which is available everywhere. Restaurants are safe, as long as the food is well cooked. Avoid undercooked or raw fish, but do not miss the chance to eat the excellent iskra which is caught in some the cleanest waters in the world at Lake Sevan. Ice Cream is OK. Wash fruit and vegetables before you eat them. Eating off the street is OK as long as the food is well cooked. If the place looks clean, the servers and cook neat, it is usually safe to eat there. Doesn’t this sound like Mom talking? And wasn’t she always right? Water Purification Either get it in a kit, or a 2% tincture of iodine can be used. Add two drops per liter or quart of water and let stand for 30 minutes. It tastes rotten, and some people add flavored powder to hide the taste (yeah, right). Keep it sealed between use. Chlorine tablets do not kill amoebae or giardia. Simple filtration does not remove all pathogens. Nutrition Always be sure you eat well, and try to eat three to five times a day. Alternate snacks of fruits and nuts (very easy to get here, peeled fruit is safe and full of vitamins) with larger meals in the morning, midday and in the evening. Protein sources popular in Armenia are eggs, lentils, beans and nuts. Armenian food is rich in meat and fats, and though tasty, you may get a bloated stomach unless you are active. Getting grains and bread is not difficult. Armenians eat enormous amounts of bread, and it is a staple at all tables. Though cooked food is safer, overcooked (i.e. at state restaurants) loses its nutritional value. Drink plenty of fluids. Not being thirsty doesn’t always mean you are OK. Very dark urine or not urinating on a regular basis can mean you need more fluids. If you sweat a lot, you need to drink a lot of juice and water: you can easily lose body salt and get muscle cramps. Packaged 100% juices are very popular in Armenia now, quite safe and tasty. Vitamin supplements are a good idea for those on the go. In reasonable doses, multivitamin supplements cannot hurt you. The excess vitamins flush themselves out of the system. Combining B-50 complex with vitamin C adds an extra boost. Jet Lag Symptoms Breathing rate is another sign of illness. Normally adults and older children take about 12-20 times a minute (up to 30 times for young children, 40 for babies). With a high fever or respiratory illness, people tend to breathe faster. More than 40 times a minute is a symptom of pneumonia. Medication Help As a response to this need, the consulate at the US Embassy provides information to US citizens about doctors, hospitals and clinics which specialize in treating foreigners. They also provide insurance to foreigners, but call first for details. Though the embassies cannot provide medical aid, they should be notified if your condition is serious, and can provide information about evacuation. Basic consultations and non hospital first aid is not free to foreigners, unless it is a part of your tour package. Consultations and routine examinations are $5-20. Basic hospital accommodations for foreigners varies from free to $50 per day in smaller towns (or drams in the regions) to the official foreigner hospital charge of $120-$250 a day. Be aware that if you stay in a non-foreigner hospital or clinic, the custom is that everything is free, but nothing is provided. Locals bring sheets, pillows, food and medicine, plus pay nurses and doctors for the supposed "free medical treatment". Pharmacies have recently improved their stocks, but it still may be a "pill chase" to get the medicine you need. The foreigner hospitals have good stocks of medicine (at premium prices). Before you gripe that foreigners are getting gouged, think of this: the ways the Health Ministry can raise funds for its needs nationwide is limited. Charging to Foreigners who normally have insurance to pay the costs is one of the ways to insure better treatment, and to pay its bills. Medical Centers In Yerevan, two medical centers allocated for foreigners are the Hospital of the 4th Main Administration of the Ministry of Health 4th Yerevan City Polyclinic See also: Gynecology For gynecological aid, we’ve heard very good comments about Dr. Rufino Mirimanovo at Polyclinic #4 Dr. Mirimanovo treats patients on Tues-Thurs between 3-5 p.m. Another gynecological clinic is at Erebuni Hospital (374-1) 47-11-90, 14 Khaghagh Don Street. Erebuni is also considered a good general treatment hospital. Maternity Maternity care is provided at the clinic on 22 Mashtots Ave. (374-1) 53-01-92. Dental Dental work can be made at the Central Dental Institute on Tumanian Street, but we’ve it’s better at ArgoDent Dental Express Standard prices are 5000 AMD teeth cleaning, $25 complete tooth reconstruction, $200 bridges, $320 implants. It’s cheaper to fly here and have your teeth done than to have them done alone in the states. Optical Also cheaper than and just as good as in the West, there are many many opticas in Armenia. Standard rpices are 3000 AMD for an eye exam and prescription, with normaly a discount if you buy glasses at same place. Glasses 40-60% cheaper than in Europe or USA. Achkid Luis (Eye Light) ______________________________________________________________ For more information on these and other hospitals, private doctors, and pharmacies contact International Relations Administration, Ministry of Health of Armenia Min. of Health of Armenia Web Site
|
