Medical Care while Traveling Nicaragua
Nicaraguan medicine is not up to par with North American or European facilities. Managua is about the only area that is able to handle emergency medical cases. Many towns have physicians and essential services, however if an emergency comes up, patients must be transported to the capital. There are big hospitals in every major city in the country.
When an emergency occurs, the patient is to go to the closest facility that will receive patients. This is typically a public hospital, where situations are deplorable and healing routines are almost non-existent. Private hospitals are more sterile and provide slightly better treatment, however many 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 adequate form of compensation practically anyplace for emergency services.
Tourists traveling to Nicaragua are counseled to be current with all of the vaccinations, especially Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and rabies. A good number of modern medicines are not yet offered in Nicaragua, thus if you are taking prescription medicine make certain you have extra to get you through your stay in the country. If you go to the east coast, be positive to take an anti-malaria medicine both before and after your visit to circumvent contracting the illness.
In conclusion, don't expect your medical insurance plan will cover you in a foreign country ; many will not. Check with your policy holder before you disembark, and validate that your plan is effective even though you are outside the US. Also make certain that it will cover emergency medical procedures, transportation, and evacuation. Otherwise, find a supplemental plan before you depart.
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