Nicaragua Travel: Basic & ER Medical Care
Nicaraguan medicine is not up to standard with North American or European facilities. Managua is probably the only area that can treat emergency medical cases. Many towns have physicians and essential attention, but if an emergency arises, patients must be brought to the capital. There are big hospitals in every major region in the country.
Once an emergency happens, the patient is to go to the nearest facility that will receive patients. This is usually a public hospital, where situations are terrible and treatment regimens are nearly non-existent. Private hospitals are more sanitary and provide slightly better treatment, but most of them function on a cash-only basis, and you will not be brought to one unless you can verify that you, or someone with you,can provide cash. Credit cards are not an acceptable form of payment practically anywhere for emergency services.
Visitors traveling to Nicaragua are counseled to be current with all of the vaccinations, especially Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies. Most modern medicines are not yet available in Nicaragua, so if you are taking prescription medicine make certain you have extra to get you through your stay in the nation. If you travel to the east coast, make sure to take an anti-malaria medicine both before and after your visit to prevent getting the illness.
In conclusion, don't presume your medical insurance policy will cover you in a foreign nation ; very few will. Check with your agent before you depart, and make sure that your policy is valid during while you are outside the US. Also make certain that it will cover emergency medical procedures, transportation, and evacuation. Otherwise, find a supplemental policy before you depart.
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