Health, vaccinations and medical care in Israel

The financial part matters as much as the medical part

• Healthcare in Israel and Palestine is not free and treatment can be expensive.
• Hospitals will insist on payment and may take legal action to stop you leaving until bills are paid. That is an unusual and serious consequence, and it is why the insurance has to have accessible funds behind it rather than a reimbursement promise.
• Call your insurer as soon as you are referred to a facility, before treatment begins if you can.

Getting an ambulance

• The numbers differ between the FCDO's own pages, so know both. Its Getting help page gives ambulance 101, fire 102, police 100. Its Health page says to dial 100 in Israel and 101 in the West Bank and Gaza.
• If one does not connect, try the other. Do not spend the time working out which page was right.

Medication

• The legal status of some medicines differs from the UK. Carry anything you need in its original packaging with the prescription, and check before travelling with controlled drugs.

Before you travel

• Check the vaccine recommendations at least 8 weeks ahead.
• Make sure the policy covers the region and is not voided by the FCDO advisory for any part of the trip you plan.