Moving to a different continent can be an exciting – and daunting – step in any career. Whatever business you’re in, it’s crucial that you are well prepared for the lifestyle change and have expert support to look after your health when working abroad.

You can take the first steps to good health abroad before getting on the plane. It’s crucial that you access information about your destination country before you leave. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) websites provide a good source of information, providing guidance on local laws and customs, health, safety and security. The Bupa website is also a great resource for information on conditions you may get while abroad, including malaria, dengue fever and even jet lag (www.bupa.co.uk/health_information).

The exact health issues depend on the destination country. Before leaving, you should visit your doctor and check which vaccinations are needed before travelling. This should be done at least six weeks before leaving.

Vaccinations depend on the country and current level of risk of diseases. This information can vary from year to year depending on the level of risk at the time. You can find out about vaccinations from the WHO, FCO and Bupa websites, or from the local embassy in the destination country. Also bear in mind that there can be restrictions associated with vaccinations. For example, some countries need a certificate to prove you have been vaccinated against yellow fever if you have recently visited a country where yellow fever is prevalent.

Standards
Medical treatment can be costly and healthcare systems vary across the world – for example there will not always be access to a general practitioner. Inside the European Union there is a reciprocal agreement between member states to use the country’s health services. The country’s local embassy can give you more advice about the healthcare system. However, this only gives access to the public systems and not private hospitals. Standards and access systems vary considerably even within the EU, so it is a good idea that people working abroad look at purchasing private medical insurance.

Family
If you’re moving abroad with young children, you need to be aware of their extra health needs and keep up to date with childhood vaccinations. Young children are more susceptible to dehydration, due to lack of fluid intake or water loss due to diarrhoea. They also take longer to adapt to the change in climate and are more prone to infectious diseases. It’s especially important that young children are taken to see their doctor at least six weeks before moving abroad to get them prepared for the move. Once in the destination country, you will need to arrange to keep their vaccination schedule up to date.

One common health problem for expatriates living in tropical countries is insect bites. Insects can transmit many tropical diseases, including malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever and West Nile virus. The best thing for those who live in a country where bites cause such problems is to take every step possible to avoid the bites. For example, they should wear long-sleeved loose fitting clothing, use insect repellent and use mosquito nets if staying in basic accommodation.

You should also seek advice locally about the most common types of disease or ailments on arriving at your destination, especially if staying in a developing country. Some viruses are more prevalent in certain communities, so it’s important to find this out and any precautions that should be taken. Expatriates should also be aware of any other risks, such as exposure to unscreened blood products during treatment, if a blood transfusion is needed in a medical emergency.

Given the considerations we’ve covered, ensuring you have sufficient medical insurance cover can be critical. If you are unfortunate enough to have a serious accident, then the bills can easily add up to over £50,000, especially if emergency evacuation is required. Even routine treatment can have hidden costs. But more importantly, it is a good idea to make sure you are insured with people you can trust to point you in the right direction, to hospitals and doctors that know how to look after you, and give you advice on how to stay healthy.

Bupa customers who have any concerns about the health alerts mentioned above should call Bupa’s dedicated health information service, HealthLine, and speak to one of the fully-qualified nurses. HealthLine is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Bupa International knows that different people have different needs, that’s why they have developed Worldwide Health Options. This provides the reassurance of the core Worldwide Medical Insurance cover, and the freedom to include any number of cover options including Worldwide Medical Plus, Worldwide Medicines and Equipment, Worldwide Wellbeing, Worldwide Evacuation and USA cover.

To ensure that you are paying a price that is right for your needs, they calculate the cost of your plan according to the cover options you choose and the country where you spend most of your time. And to make the price even more flexible, you can also choose to include deductibles if you wish.

You can create your own, tailored healthcare plan to meet your individual needs and enjoy all the benefits of being a Bupa member.

For more information visit www.bupa-intl.com or call +44 (0)1273 322 070.