Taking care of your health

This page gives travel health advice for all Australians.

This page only gives general advice. Always talk to your healthcare providers for advice specific to you and your situation.

Read this page along with our travel advice for your destinations. Also see the Australian Government's travel health advice (HealthDirect).

On this page

• the risk of getting sick overseas
• health checklist before you go
• taking care of your health while you're away
• how the Australian Government can help overseas

The risk of getting sick overseas

Getting sick overseas can affect your health in the short and long term. It can also affect your safety and finances. Medical care overseas can be expensive.

Anyone can get sick or injured overseas. Even if you're usually fit and healthy. Your health is your responsibility.

Health risks

Travel health risks include:

• infectious diseases
• worsening of pre-existing illnesses, including mental health conditions
• injury from accidents
• heat-, cold- and altitude-related illness
• allergic reactions
• illnesses such as stroke or heart attack.

If you return to Australia with an infectious disease, you put other people at risk. Including your family and friends.

See the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice on health risks for travellers.

Financial risks

You could face high medical costs if you get sick or injured.

You can't access Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) overseas. You, your family or travel insurer will have to pay for your medical care.

• Hospital stays overseas often cost thousands of dollars per day.
• They may need to quarantine you if you've caught an infectious disease. This can cost even more.
• You may not get treatment if you can't pay your bill upfront. Even in a medical emergency.
• You could be arrested if you can't pay for the treatment you've received.

Learn more about money problems while you're away.

It isn't just medical care you'll have to pay for. Costs can also include:

• loss of prepaid activities
• cancellation fees for booked activities, flights or accommodation
• extra food and accommodation for people travelling with you while you're being treated
• flight changes.

Health checklist before you go

1. Research your destination
2. Get travel insurance
3. Talk to your doctor
4. Prepare your medicines and medical supplies
5. Think about what activities you're planning

1. Research your destination

Health risks can vary between countries. Know the risks so you can make informed choices about where you go, what you do there and what preventive measures you can take.

Start by reading our travel advice for your destinations. Each has a heading for 'Health' that covers some of the key things you need to know.

Then, read travel guides, do online research and talk to people you know who've been there before. For each destination you're travelling to or through, find out about:

• infectious diseases there
• other types of health risks, such as altitude sickness or injuries from car crashes
• availability and quality of health care, medical facilities and medicines
• local attitudes towards disability, and the availability of accessible accommodation
• local attitudes and laws around mental health, and the availability of mental health support
• laws about medication. If your medicine is illegal, you could be arrested or jailed.

Avoid countries with a higher risk of infectious diseases if a medical condition increases your risk. For example, if you have a suppressed immune system.

If there's a major disease outbreak where you're going, don't go. Wait until the risk has passed. Going will put yourself and others at risk.

If you plan to go to a destination with a 'Do not travel' warning, you're putting yourself at serious risk. You could die. Take our advice levels seriously. The Australian Government may be unable to help you if things go wrong.

2. Get travel insurance

Health cover is one of the main reasons Australians get travel insurance. It won't prevent you from getting sick or injured. But it can prevent you from suffering financially.

You must pay for all medical care you receive overseas. You can't expect to get subsidised care through your destination's public health system like in Australia.

If you have a terminal illness, you may not be able to get basic travel insurance. But you may be able to find a specialised insurer that covers you for health, accidents or property loss unrelated to your illness. Talk to your insurer to find out.

Make sure you choose a policy that's right for you. Read our advice on how to choose the right insurance. Also see the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide.

3. Talk to your doctor

Your doctor can give you advice that's specific to your healthcare needs.

See your doctor 6 to 8 weeks before you go. You need enough time to act on their advice. Ask for practical advice on how to stay healthy while you're away.

• Ask if it's safe for you to travel. Especially if you're a mature traveller or have a pre-existing condition. Specialised care may be hard to find overseas.
• Tell your doctor where you're going. Ask what unique risks you may face and which countries you may want to avoid.
• Ask what travel vaccinations they suggest. And check that your regular vaccinations are up-to-date.
• If you plan to travel while pregnant, talk to your obstetrician. They can tell you how to reduce risks to you and your unborn child.
• If you're travelling with children, check their childhood vaccinations are current. Ask about any health issues that may affect them where you're going.

Also, ask how to protect yourself against other risks like:

• insect-borne illnesses, such as malaria
• food- and water-borne illnesses
• blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) during long-haul travel
• environmental risks such as altitude or temperature.

Read our advice on preventing infectious diseases. Also see more about immunisation for travel (Department of Health).

4. Prepare your medicines and medical supplies

Take a small first aid kit with you. Include things like:

• headache tablets
• antiseptic lotion
• cotton wool
• waterproof band-aids
• SPF 30-50+ sunscreen
• insect repellent.

If you take regular medicine, plan how to access it while you're away. Ideally, take enough medicine for your whole trip. You may have challenges refilling your script or finding medical supplies overseas.

Your medicine may not be available or legal where you're going. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicine. Find out the local laws before you go.

If you have to buy medicines overseas, check the strength of the medicine and the active ingredients with a doctor or pharmacist there. It may be different to what you're used to. Beware of imitation or counterfeit medicines.

Read our advice about travelling with medicine and medical equipment.

5. Think about what you're planning to do

The activities you're planning to do overseas can affect your health. Your health also affects what activities you can do safely.

This doesn't just apply to adventurous activities like bungee jumping or skydiving. It also applies to going on a cruise, driving a car or motorcycle, partying, working& and more.

• Research your destination, including safety regulations.
• Look into any tour or service providers you're using. Ensure they have a good reputation.
• Research the activity you plan to do. Find out if it commonly leads to particular health problems, especially injuries.
• Check your travel insurance policy. Basic policies don't cover you for higher-risk activities. You may be surprised by what some policies exclude. Some will only cover your activity if you pay extra.

If you're going overseas for a medical procedure, choose your hospital and surgeon wisely. Read our advice on medical tourism and organ transplant tourism.

Taking care of your health while you're away

You'll enjoy your time overseas more if you don't get sick or injured. You can make choices that reduce your risks while you're there.

• Wash your hands often. Or use hand sanitiser.
• Eat and drink safe food and water.
• Protect yourself against insect bites.
• Use sunscreen and other sun protection.
• Take action to prevent blood clots caused by long-haul travel.
• Take action to prevent illnesses related to heat, cold, and altitude.
• Practice safer sex.
• Wear a helmet and proper protective clothing when riding a scooter.
• Follow road rules and drive defensively. Particularly if you're unfamiliar with the traffic conditions.
• Choose tattoo, piercing and medical providers with high safety and hygiene standards.

Always check the condition of

• safety gear provided for activities
• any vehicles you hire, including scooters and quad bikes.

Check the gear or vehicle before you use it. Don't use it if you're not comfortable with the condition. Go elsewhere.

Get medical advice if you feel unwell overseas or when you get back to Australia. Know how to get medical care where you're travelling.

How the Australian Government can help

The Australian Government is limited in when and how it can help Australians overseas. You're responsible for your own health overseas. It's up to you, your family or your travel insurer to organise and pay for any medical care you need.

For more information about how we can help, see the Consular Services Charter.

What we can do

• We can give you or your family a list of local hospitals or doctors that speak English.
• We can give you or your family a list of local lawyers who speak English.
• We can publish some information about health risks and local emergency contact numbers for your destination.

What we can't do

• We can't pay your medical bills for you or loan you money.
• We can't recommend hospitals, doctors or lawyers.
• We can't organise or provide you with health care or medicines.

Read next

• Learn how to reduce your risk from infectious diseases.
• Read about travelling with medication and medical equipment.
• Learn how to look after your mental health.
• Some medical emergencies in certain countries are covered by reciprocal healthcare agreements.
• Understand what happens if you die overseas.

Read more

• See our advice for travelling with a disability.
• Learn how to take care of your health at sea if you're going on a cruise.
• Choose the right travel insurance that covers your health.
• Research your planned activities to reduce the risk of getting injured.
• Know how to get medical care overseas.
• Understand how and when the Australian Government can help overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.

See also

• See travel health information and travel health advice (Department of Health).
• Read advice on overseas travel (Victorian Department of Health and Human Services).
• Read the Staying healthy when travelling overseas factsheet (NSW Department of Health).
• See country and disease-specific advice for travellers (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).