Healthcare

Health issues in Chile

Chile is a long and narrow country situated between the Andes Mountains in South America and the Pacific Ocean. It is 4,300 km long and 175 km wide, giving it a varied climate from north to south. There is the world’s driest desert, the Atacama, in the north, a Mediterranean climate in the centre and a snow-prone climate in the south.

In the capital city of Santiago, the summers are long and dry and temperatures can usually rise to about 28 to 30 degrees centigrade (82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). Therefore it is worth taking precautions to protect you against the sun, by wearing a hat, using sunscreen and drinking plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. The winter months in Chile bring a high level of rainfall between May and August, but temperatures during these months stay relatively mild. The country’s 15 million estimated residents (according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) enjoy one of the highest standards of living in South America. It is not surprising, then, that there is an adequate supply of fresh water in the central and southern regions, and water in most cities within these regions can be consumed direct from the tap. However, it is still advisable to check before drinking the tap water that it is potable and to consider the fact that it can upset your digestive system if you are not used to it. To protect yourself completely you may wish to boil or filter the water before drinking it, or to purchase bottled water, which is readily available.

It is worth noting that adequate healthcare facilities and medical services can be found in the major cities for expatriates and their families.

The private hospitals and clinics tend to offer a higher level of care compared to the state system and also offer multilingual staff. However, treatment through the private system can be expensive if you are funding yourself. There is also no reciprocal health agreement in place between the UK and Chile, which means you will have to fund your own medical treatment and care. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office “strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling”.

Another key factor to consider is the vaccinations required before you travel to Chile. www.netdoctor.co.uk recommends that you receive the following inoculations:

• Typhoid – 10 days before.
• Hepatitis A – two weeks before.
• Diphtheria – three months before.
• Tuberculosis – three months before.
• Hepatitis B – two months before.
• Rabies – one month before.