Health, vaccinations and medical care in Bahrain

Care

• Bahrain has good private hospitals and clinics, several with English-speaking staff; the FCDO publishes a list.
• You will be charged for emergency treatment. Take insurance covering treatment and repatriation, and have accessible funds as well - payment may be wanted at the point of care.

Medicines - check before you fly

• This is the one to plan for. Some medicines that are ordinary at home are controlled in Bahrain.
• The FCDO advises seeking prior authority from the Bahrain Embassy before bringing certain prescription medicines, and carrying a doctor's letter.
• Do not assume a pharmacy will replace something you could not bring.

Heat

• Summer runs May to September and Bahrain is humid as well as hot - the combination is harder work than the dry heat of Riyadh.
• Everything is air-conditioned and life moves indoors and after dark.
• Drink more than you think, and take salt as well as water.

Air quality

• Dust storms occur and air quality can be poor for days, which matters if you are asthmatic.

Numbers

• 999 for an ambulance, and it is the general emergency number.