How to find competent medical care when you're far from home? Krista Carothers prescribes the best options

Two days into a recent trip to India, I awoke in Mumbai with a raging case of double pinkeye and both eyes crusted closed. I despaired for a few minutes and then phoned the front desk of my hotel, the Regent. Within an hour, a doctor was at the door, bearing sympathy and ointment. About $20 and a few hours later, I was back in top form.

Luckily, my pinkeye developed while I was at a luxury hotel and not at one of the many budget accommodations I stayed in during most of my trip. Even luckier, I suffered only a minor ailment: nothing so serious as a broken bone or a heart attack. Still, the incident made me realize the importance of knowing where and how to find competent health care when traveling overseas.

Before You Go
Start by reading the fact sheets put out by the Centers for Disease Control (cdc.gov/travel) and by making a pre-trip appointment with a travel health specialist, especially if you'll be visiting a place that requires vaccinations or antimalarial medication. The Web site of the U.S. embassy or consulate at your destination will also provide information on local health care and related concerns (find links to the sites at usembassy.state.gov). Next, check to see if your health insurance will cover you overseas. Even if it does, consider buying a travel medicine insurance policy with 24-hour assistance centers that can guide you to the nearest English-speaking doctor or approved hospital (go to insuremytrip.com to compare policies). Some credit cards also offer this service, often for a fee.

One of the best doctor referral resources is the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), which has a directory of English-speaking doctors in 125 countries. It's free, and all of the medical professionals it lists received their training in North America or Europe and charge $80 for the initial office visit. Keep a copy in your suitcase (iamat.org).

Once you're at your destination, the steps to take if you do become ill will depend largely on your location and the nature of your problem.