Clean Air Adventure
Health & Safety in Bhutan
The Kingdom has made great efforts to improve health facilities and provides a free health care to all its citizens. It has achieved a child immunization rate of nearly 100%, iodine deficiency has been eliminated and 50% of the population has access to clean water. Life expectancy has increased from 47.4 years in 1984 to 66 years in 1998. Infant mortality once highest in the world, at 142 per thousand births, had been halved to 70.7 per thousand births by 1998.
Until the 1950s, the only education available in Bhutan was from monasteries.While still monastic education continues to play an important role but western style education is expanded and now available throughout the country. Access to basic education has become the inalienable right of all Bhutanese and it is the key to the most of the nation’s ambitions. Literacy has increased from 28% in 1984 to 54% in 1998 and this is further enhanced through adult education programs.
Before you go
If you bring medications with you, pack them in their original, clearly labelled containers. You can also bring with you a signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including generic names. Especially if you carry syringes or needles you need to have a physician’s letter documenting their medical necessity. If you have a heart condition, bring a copy of your ECG taken just prior to travelling. Also bring double your needs of regular medication, in case of loss or theft. You can’t rely on many medications being available from pharmacies in Bhutan.
Vaccinations
Specialized travel medicine clinics are your best source of information; they stock all available vaccines and will be able to give specific recommendations for you and your trip. The doctors will take into account factors such as past vaccination history, the length of your trip, activities you may be under taking and underlying medical conditions such as pregnancy. Most vaccines don’t produce immunity until at least two weeks after they’re given, so visit a doctor four to eight weeks before departure. Ask your doctor for an International Certificate of Vaccination (otherwise known as the yellow booklet), which will list all the vaccinations you’ve received. The World Health Organization has the excellent and annually revised book ‘International Travel & Health’.
Health care in Bhutan
Bhutan doesn’t have private health clinics or physicians, but all district headquarter towns have a hospital. In case you get sick, Thimpu’s Jigme Dorji WangchukNational Referral Hospital is the best facility. Treatment is free, even for tourists. In rural areas it’s difficult to find reliable medical care, so you best take a first aid kit with you. Most large towns have shops selling medicines. Many of these are available without a prescription.
Emergency
In case of emergency, use the following alarm numbers:
- Police: 113
- Fire-brigade: 110
- Ambulance: 112
Insurance
Never travel without health insurance, even if you are fit and healthy. Accidents do occur and then you at least don’t have to worry about your insurance costs to be well covered. Emergency evacuation is very expensive if you are not or not well insured. Some policies ask you to call back (reverse charges) to a centre in your home country where an immediate assessment of your problem is made. You may need extra cover for adventure activities such as rock climbing or rafting.If your health insurance doesn’t cover you for medical expenses abroad,consider getting extra insurance.