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Essential Health Guide for Expats and Travelers in Spain and Latin America

When you’re ill on vacation, you know what it feels like—it’s totally different. Your ordinary sickness becomes an ordeal once you find yourself in a country where you don’t understand the language very well.

Whether you go to Spain, Mexico, or Argentina, those are wonderful places to wander in, discover, and spend time in. But using their health care system as a tourist? That’s something else!

From “I’ll Be Fine” to “I Need a Doctor”

Usually, it begins innocently enough. You blame some food at a street vendor stand in Mexico City or the flu you contracted after some long nights out in Barcelona. You decide to get some sleep, drink plenty of water, and take whatever medication is available at the pharmacy.

Except it becomes much more serious.

Suddenly, you are attempting to convey your symptoms in poor Spanish. You find yourself looking up the words for “hives,” “lightheadedness,” or “infection” on Google. You head to the pharmacy thinking you will get assistance there, but finding the right words to use and understand responses from a pharmacist becomes difficult.

What if it gets worse? Finding a doctor isn’t always easy. 

– Should you go to a hospital or a clinic?

-Will the doctors be able to speak English?

-Are appointments required?

-Is there a possibility of coming to where you are staying?

When you are already suffering, asking all of these questions becomes difficult.

Communication and Availability – The Real Challenges

Let’s face it: healthcare in Spain or Latin America may be of the highest quality. However, these medical systems cater to local people, not tourists who have just gotten off the plane after two days in a foreign country.

You can try finding English-speaking physicians in major cities such as Madrid or Buenos Aires; however, you will spend some time doing it, not to mention that luck plays an important role. In small towns and on beaches, things get worse.

There is also a problem with pharmacies in Spanish-speaking countries since pharmacists have more responsibilities here compared to other countries. This is good news if communication is not a problem; otherwise, you can easily get the product that confuses you.

All this adds up to the level of stress when all you want is straightforward assistance.

A Better Approach to Health Problems While Away

Here comes the usefulness of having an already known source to turn to before getting ill.

There is one particular travel health company that has become increasingly popular among expats and those who often travel around Spain and Latin America. The name of it is TravelDoctor-es, and it caters to precisely those non-Spanish speaking people who simply need good medical advice without going through all sorts of hassle.

It may seem that what makes TravelDoctor-es useful is its availability. In case you need a doctor, you can consult with an English-speaking physician via telemedicine without making any effort to get out of your bed. Even in certain areas, TravelDoctor-es is capable of providing you with a visiting doctor. No extra effort to translate and explain anything. No misunderstandings. 

How This Is Important When Traveling

As you travel long enough, you’ll find out just how important it is. The ability to communicate directly with a doctor in English, describe your symptoms accurately, and get a clear answer? Well, it’s vital. In addition, you’ll learn about and avoid several mistakes that many people make while traveling:

-Misunderstanding instructions for your medications

-Not paying attention to potential health problems that need to be checked

-Exaggerating your symptoms and rushing to the hospital for no reason

-You’ll get to know all the details right away—and act appropriately.

Travel Better, Not Just Farther

The greatest thing you can learn while traveling is that freedom comes from preparation, not improvisation.

Using a service such as TravelDoctor-es is not about having a negative outlook; rather, it is about eliminating one source of friction. One less worry makes room for enjoying the journey even more.

Therefore, no matter whether you will be visiting Spain for a couple of weeks, spending time traveling slowly through Mexico, or staying put in Argentina, here is an important piece of advice:

Get ready for your health.