Does anyone have any experience of working in non-first world countries for any length of time? My daughter has been offered a 9-month contract to work in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and I am getting very stressed about the practicalities of insurance, insulin supplies, NHS eligibility etc. Any advice or experiences would be gratefully received
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Working abroad
- Thread starter wump21
- Start Date
IZ THE LEG END
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 169
- Location
- East Yorkshire
- Type of diabetes
- LADA
- Treatment type
- Insulin
- Dislikes
- Diabetes!!!
Hi, I work offshore on the oil rigs, I also work land rigs currently in Saudi Arabia. What I have found is that I can readily get my hands on needles, and even insulin. The issue I have found is hypo treatment gels/gluco tabs etc are hard to come by maybe religious reasons etc...
however saying that I have never had a need to use the facilities. Be wary every country is different it may be worth taking a medical document or letter from your doctor stating medications etc that way you can always get a translator or eve a foreign doctor as most will speak fluent English and any issues can be sorted...
She will need special travel insurance and you will probably find you will not be entitled to state help from the country your travelling other than your travel insurance but be clear with your insurance on length of stay to avoid any large medical bills should you need to use them hopefully not.
Congratulations on the opportunity and all the best
however saying that I have never had a need to use the facilities. Be wary every country is different it may be worth taking a medical document or letter from your doctor stating medications etc that way you can always get a translator or eve a foreign doctor as most will speak fluent English and any issues can be sorted...
She will need special travel insurance and you will probably find you will not be entitled to state help from the country your travelling other than your travel insurance but be clear with your insurance on length of stay to avoid any large medical bills should you need to use them hopefully not.
Congratulations on the opportunity and all the best
RuthW
Well-Known Member
You are absolutely NOT eligible to use the NHS when you are not resident in the UK full time. You also cannot obtain nine-months supply of anything before leaving. The NHS will not prescribe that much. She can undoubtedly get insulin etc in West Africa, but she may need help to find a specialist in the capital city of Ivory Coast. My guess is that it will be a private doctor in a private clinic. If she has a nine-month contract, her employers should organize her health care.
I live and work in Turkey. There are no religious restrictions on gels, glucose tabs etc. You don't tend to find that kind of thing everywhere because there is no demand. Sugary stuff, on the other hand, is everywhere!
