Health in Bali

IMMUNIZATIONS

No immunizations are required to travel to Bali, except for Yellow Fever for people arriving from infected areas. Malaria prophylaxis is not necessary in Bali but is advised for travel to other islands.

Check with your physician well before departure for advice with respect to recommended vaccinations. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations may be advisable. Japanese Encephalitis vaccination is often recommended for travel to other islands.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

Most common prescription medications are readily available in Bali. If you need a new or unusual medication, however, it's probably best to make sure you bring enough with you for your entire stay. If you do bring any medications with you, be sure to also bring copies of the prescriptions to avoid questions from customs.

HYGIENE

Hygiene cannot be taken for granted in Bali. Many places do not have running water or sewerage. In any event, tap or well water is not potable but is clean enough for bathing, etc. Bottled water is widely available, but small shops may not store it properly or may have extremely old stock. Before buying or drinking a bottle, check the expiration date and hold it up to the light to check for particulate matter. If the bottle has expired or contains visible particulate matter, don't buy or drink it!

HIV/AIDS

HIV is a growing problem in Bali. Don't be complacent!

HEALTHCARE

Local healthcare facilities can be very dirty and limited. It's a good idea to bring a good first aid kit with you. Major hotels often have their own clinics or on-call physicians. If you should end up getting an injection for any reason, ensure the syringe has never been used before, or, better yet, buy your own new syringe from a pharmacy and take it with you.

Emergency care leaves much to be desired. Your best bet in the event of a serious problem or emergency is to get on the next plane to Singapore, which has world-class healthcare facilities and services. Air ambulances out of Bali can be arranged but are, of course, expensive. Consider buying insurance that includes coverage for such emergency evacuation.

International SOS is one such provider with operations in Bali. They have 24-hour centers in Bali, Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing, and Ho Chi Minh City.