When getting ready for la ong stay abroad, make sure you have enough all the medication you’ll be needing during your trip with you. It’s very important to pack them right: make sure all medications are packed in their original and rightly labeled containers. Having a signed and dated letter from your physician is also the great thing to have with you. If there’s a need you to take any regular medication, bring double your need in case of loss or theft.
Here’s a short list of useful medicine you may need on your holiday. To save some money and space in your suitcase, it’s good to remember that you’ll get everything here; there’s no point to drag all of them from home.
- antibacterial cream
- antibiotic for skin infection
- antibiotics for diarrhoea
- any kind of antihistamine
- antiseptic
- diarroeah treatment, diarroeah stoppers
- ibuprofen or any other anti-inflammatory
- paracetamol
- sunscreen
Healthcare in Bali
BIMC
BIMC is on the bypass road just east of Kuta and is very easily accessible from most of shouter Bali. This modern Australian-run clinic can do tests, hotel visits and arrange medical evacuation. A basic consultation in BIMC costs about 600 000 Rupiahs.
Jl.Ngurah Rai 100X, Kuta
Tele. 0361-761263
International SOS Medical Clinic
This clinic is near to BIMC and offers similar services at similar prices.
Jl.Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta
Tele. 0361-710505
It might not come as a surprise to tell you that the medical care in Bali is way different from what it is in western countries. And worth of mentioning, it’s also very expensive. Before going to hospital (for example because of broken toe or for some other small incident) take a look first to hospitals treatment prices from their website, because there’s no doubt they’re going to make you pay at least double price. And when they hear that you have a health/travel insurance, they’re gonna be delighted. Double price, once again. It’s good to remember to confirm that your insurance will cover you, but it’s also good to keep in mind that it doesn’t mean you’re going to get your treatment for free. You need to pay the bill normally and after this your insurance will make it up to you. In cases of serious incident you may need to be evacuated by air ambulance to hospitals in Jakarta or Singapore. That’s where you’re going to need a proper insurance, because these flights are going to cost you more than US$10,000. To play even more safely, find out the contract clinic of your insurance company here from Bali to avoid paying all your expenses in advance. Otherwise, if not using the contract clinics, you’ll be paying everything in advance, no matter if you should or not.
Travelers other problems
The main reasons for facing a sickness during your stay, are likely to be diarrhoea (so called Bali belly), food poisoning, sunburns, heat exhaustion and insect bites. Remember to wash your hands often, especially always before eating (but don’t use those little towels hanging nest to the basins in restaurants, it’s no use washing your hands first and then dry them to the “clean” towel which have been used by MANY others before you). To avoid serious heatstroke, remember to drink enough (but no alcohol), use hat and stay under the umbrella while lying on the beach, especially when the sun is high. And remember: lots and lots of sunscreen. Insect bites, on the other hand, can be avoided by using a mosquito repellent any kind, which can be found in every local stores and pharmacies.
Be aware of Rabies
Rabies is still a common problem in most of the parts of Indonesia, but also in Bali. Actually, what is happening now, is that the number of the rabies infections have increased considerably among dogs this year. Unfortunately, rabies is a fatal disease spread by the bite or lick of infected animal, mostly by a monkey and a dog. You probably won’t need to take the pre-vaccination before your trip, but be aware of this serious problem. Although 60 percent of the estimated 460 000 dogs in Bali have been vaccinated since 2008, every one dog out of ten is supposed to have rabies infection. The best way to avoid being bitten is to avoid touching all animals, no matter if they look healthy or not. There’s been around 42 000 reported dog bites only this year whereas in the whole 2009 the number of reported bites was 24 000. If you get bitten by a dog or any other animal, don’t ever let the animal lick your wound. The first aid is to clean the wound with water and soap, then make sure to get to the hospital immediately and receive rabies immunoglobulin as soon as possible. It’s really important to get the medical treatment right away, because approximately after one week since you’ve been bitten by a infected animal, you’ll get the first symptoms of rabies and after that, you’ve already lost the game. There’s no use for medications anymore, and the result is, most sadly, certain death. However, there’s no need to be over concerned, just be aware of this serious disease.
You better not touch! No matter how cute and cuddly, but this puppy might actually been infected already. The best way to avoid infection is to avoid touching all animals.
