Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
US AND CANADA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
800 232 6348 (24hr health
helpline),
cdc.gov/travel
. Official US government travel health site that's laden with info.
Public Health Agency of Canada
phac-aspc.gc.ca
.
Distributes free pamphlets on travel
health and provides a comprehensive list of travel clinics in the country.
Canada and vaccination costs plus brief travel health tips.
UK AND IRELAND
Fitfortravel
Excellent
NHS
(Scotland)
public
access
site
with
country-specific advice, the latest health bulletins and information on immunizations.
Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic
020 7388 9600 (Travel Clinic), 020
7950 7799 (24hr Travellers Healthline Advisory Service - see website for additional
country-specific information),
thehtd.org
.
MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad)
0870 606 2782,
masta-
travel-health.com
. List of affiliated travel clinics where you can get vaccinations and de-
tailed country-specific health briefs.
National Travel Health Network and Centre
nathnac.org
. Excellent website for health
professionals and the travelling public providing factsheets on various travel health risks and
a free database of country-specific health info.
STA Travel UK
statravel.co.uk/travel-clinic.htm
. List of STA travel clinics in England
and vaccination prices; full-time students with student card can get a ten-percent discount.
Tropical Medical Bureau
1850 487 674,
country-specific info from US consular service.
AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH AFRICA
Travellers' Medical and Vaccination Centre
traveldoctor.com.au
.
User-friendly site
listing travel clinics in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa plus accessible factsheets
on travel health and postings of health alerts worldwide.
Accessing medical care
Both state and private
medical care
is very good in Panama, particularly in Panama City;
many doctors work in the public sector hospitals in the morning and run private clinics in the
afternoon. The main problem the public sector faces is a lack of resources, particularly in the
more remote rural villages, so most Panamanians who can afford private health care as well
as almost all expats will head for a private clinic, where service is likely to be more immedi-
ate. The average cost of a consultation with a private doctor starts at $50, provided no X-rays
