Pre-trip planning

• General overview
• Pre-trip medical check-ups
• Regular medications
• Reciprocal health care agreements
• Luggage

General overview

• Consult with your travel agent for suggestions. For example, many tour operators specialise in accommodating the needs of travelling seniors.
• Find out about the medical facilities in the areas you will be visiting.
• Research important factors such as climate, language and culture. Buy a guide book and read it before you go.
• Make arrangements for wheelchairs, guide dogs and seating needs well in advance.
• Organise travel insurance with pre-existing illness cover if needed.
• If you are concerned about your health, arrange to go on a package tour.

Pre-trip medical check-ups

• Consult with your doctor for a complete medical check-up. This is especially important if you have coronary heart disease, hypertension or any other chronic condition, or if you have recently undergone surgery or experienced a heart attack.
• Discuss any particular health concerns you may have, such as dietary changes and the possible impact of different eating habits on your specific condition.
• People with diabetes will need medical advice on how to safely stagger their medications to fit a different time zone.
• Consider having your flu and pneumonia vaccinations before you go on your trip.
• If you intend travelling to areas where infectious diseases are present, make sure you are fully vaccinated.
• Visit your dentist for a check-up.
• Visit any other health care providers you consult with on a regular basis, such as your optometrist.
  
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Regular medications

• Get your GP to give you a detailed medical record, outlining any existing or past medical conditions and medication you are taking. To be safe, you may also want to bring your GP’s contact details, or the contact details of their practice.
• Some medications that are legal in Australia may be prohibited overseas. Contact the Australian embassies in the countries you intend visiting to check.
• Take enough regular medication with you to last the entire trip. Some drugs may not be available overseas. Special arrangements can be made to have six months of medication supplied under Regulation 24 of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
• If you can't bring enough your medication, make sure you have enough repeat prescriptions with you. Fill your prescriptions at commercial pharmacies in major towns prior to travelling to isolated areas, as remote areas may keep only a limited supply of medication for use in an emergency.
• You may like to consider a written and signed note from your doctor explaining the purpose of your medications, just in case.
• If you are taking large amounts of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medication with you, then you will need to take a letter of explanation from your doctor.
• If you are taking large amounts of over-the-counter medication with you, then you will need to take a letter of explanation from your chemist.
• If you buy medications overseas, remember that the dosages may be different to the brands you are familiar with.
• If the medication you regularly take requires syringes (such as insulin-dependent diabetes), take enough syringes to last the trip.
• When overseas, wear a bracelet or pendant which contains your medical details to inform others of your medical complaint in case you need urgent help. Your doctor should be able to advise you about the options available.

Reciprocal health care agreements

Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with some countries, which means emergency care is available. Non-emergency health care is only offered if delaying medical attention until returning home is unreasonable. Check with Medicare for an up-to-date list of countries participating in reciprocal health care agreements. Remember that travel health insurance is still needed.

Luggage

• Make sure your carry-on bag contains everything you will need for the duration of the flight.
• Include a medical kit in your carry-on bag. Items to consider include regular medications, painkillers, antacids and band-aids.
• It might be a good idea to take along a pillbox with compartments for different days of the week. Being away from home (and your usual routine) could make you more likely to forget to take your medication.
• Pack a spare pair of glasses.
• It may be easier on your back if you use a suitcase with wheels.

For more information, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.