Health Care

It is mandatory for all foreign tourists to possess a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate coming from or through endemic Yellow Fever regions (Africa, South America, Papua New Guinea). Though no other vaccination certificate is mandatory, tourists are advised to consult their doctor for innoculation against typhoid, hepatitis and meningitis and perhaps even polio, measles, mumps and cholera. Certain precautions should be taken while travelling to India.

·It is safer to drink only boiled or filtered water. Another option is to buy mineral water available all over the country under well known brands such as Bisleri, Hello, Himalaya, Ganga, Nestle, Aquafina and Yes. If the seal of the mineral water bottle is found already broken, such bottles should not be purchased. Carbonated drinks such as Pepsi, Coke, etc. are commonly available in the Indian markets. Aerated water or 'soda' is also easily available. Tourists may use chlorine or iodine tablets to purify water if the quality of drinking water is not upto their desired level.

·Food items should never be consumed from roadside stalls. As Indian food contains lots of spice and oil, over-eating even at a good eatery should always be avoided. To ensure that the food retains its hygiene, only food served hot should be consumed. However, most tourist places have approved restaurants.

·An insect repellent should be used if the place of stay is a mosquito-prone area. Tourists should not worry much as all places are not mosquito-infested. In the low winter temperatures in northern plains and hills, a few bugs may be active.

·If the visit to the country is during summers, lots of liquid should be consumed to avoid dehydration. It is advisable not to venture out in the mid-day sun; use sunscreens, hats and dark glasses as far as possible to avoid sunburns. To avoid skin ailments, it is important to wash often and dry thoroughly. Pharmacies or chemists are available in every little town and village from where medication, condoms or tampons can easily be purchased. If the services of a doctor are required, tourists may contact their hotel first as most of them offer doctors-on-call facilities. The other option is to contact their tour operator. It is worth mentionable that cost of visiting a doctor is much lower in India as compared to western countries.

For inoculation against communicable diseases, contact:

·The Vaccinations and Inoculation Centre for Yellow Fever: Domestic Arrivals, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi Tele : 25665348. Tuesdays and Thursdays 2 pm to 4 pm.

·International Inoculation Centre: Mandir Marg (behind St. Thomas School), New Delhi Tele: 23361675. Monday to Friday 9 am to 5.30 pm.

·Apart from these precautions that a traveller can take, many insurance companies have launched their health insurance schemes which cover expenses in any case of emergency.

Some of the major players are LIC, ICIC Prudential, Max New York Life, Birla Sunlife, AVIVA, HDFC Standard Life, Tata AIG. These companies tie-up with their overseas counterparts to provide insurance products to travellers.








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