Travelling with a health condition

Check whether good medical assistance is available at your travel destination.

Discuss your travel plans well in advance of departure (at least six to eight weeks) with your treating doctor and/or a doctor in a specialised travel clinic. Extra precautions or vaccinations are sometimes recommendedor a modification of your medication. 

Take a brief medical record (English or French) and a medication list with the generic product names with you.

Persons with immune disorders are more susceptible to infections.

People with heart and lung conditions are more sensitive to air pollution, temperature fluctuations and low oxygen pressure at high altitude.

In the case of diabetes, treatment may have to be adapted depending on the planned activities and if there is a time difference of more than three hours. When travelling by air, take a doctor's note if you use a sugar sensor or insulin pump, or if you need to take needles with you. Also ask your doctor before departure what to do in case of problems with the sensor or insulin pump.

Ensure that your travel pharmacy is in order and that you have the required documents. 

Ensure that you have good cover for travel assistance insurance. Ensure that any problems resulting from your illness are not excluded by the insurance and ask whether evacuation in the event of an emergency is included.