Everyone in Colombia is entitled to healthcare, and the country has both public and private health care providers. You will do best by using the private healthcare system, because Colombia’s public system is stretched almost to its limit. If you can purchase insurance either through your employer or as part of a travel insurance policy, you are urged to do so. The very best time to arrange for healthcare needs in Colombia is from the comfort of your ergonomic chair back home, not once you arrive in country.
If you expect to need a refill on prescription drugs while in Colombia, most pharmacies have an adequate stock on hand, and medication is often cheaper than it is in the US. Be sure that your prescription indicates the generic name of the drug you need, because most pharmaceuticals in Colombia are manufactured locally through foreign licensing arrangements. Bringing your own over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, and medication for diarrhea is also a good idea.
The only vaccine mandated for visiting Colombia is the yellow fever vaccine for those visiting national parks on the Atlantic coast. However, several other vaccines are recommended:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Tetanus / diphtheria
- Measles
Diseases uncommon in the US that are found in Colombia include cholera, dengue fever, intestinal worms, malaria, yellow fever, and typhoid fever. Your risk increases as you move away from the larger cities to rural areas.
Healthcare is easier to find in cities than in rural areas and most doctors and hospitals want payment up front, whether or not you have health insurance. Should you have a life-threatening emergency, you may want to be evacuated to a country with better facilities. Make sure you have insurance to cover this eventuality, because it can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
