First of all, I mentioned in my article about what to pack (November 2001) a book that’s designed for those who live in Third World countries. It’s called “Where There Is No Doctor”, by David Warner. Get this book and take it with you! It’s good even if you are in an area that has ready access to doctors and hospitals. It gives you information about how one catches a disease, what the symptoms are, and what medicines to ask for in order to treat it. Another kind of medical book to take along might include a medical encyclopedia, like The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. A drug and pill book is also useful, such as The Pill Book, published by Bantam Books.
When you’re all settled in, you might start looking for a reliable doctor. If you’re part of an organization, school or business, you might ask your mates about their doctors. Other resident foreigners are also a good source of information. If you’re on your own, it’ll be a little harder. Ask your neighbors about good doctors. However, a word of warning. You may find that quite a few people consider a doctor good if he prescribes a lot of medicine, or automatically reaches for the penicillin needle to cure a cold and sore throat. I remember one lady proudly telling me how many millions of units of penicillin her doctor shot into her, for a sore throat! So, insist on the same system that you asked your doctor in your home country to go by. In other words, if you want a doctor that will take the time to explain your condition to you, look for one. If you want a doctor that will give you the important details and side effects of the medicine that you’ll be taking, look for one. You may find that the first time you ask for an explanation, the doctor may be surprised. He may not be used to people actually asking him about their conditions. But, the good ones will get used to it and respect you more for it. You don’t have to settle for second best, you know. Your health is much too important for that.
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