Dominican Republic Health and Medical

Staying healthy while on vacation is a concern that most travelers have. Most hotels and resorts on the Dominican Republic have English speaking medical staff available on site to handle most tourists medical needs.

Most of the Dominican Republic's health care facilities are located in the larger cities like Santo Domingo. There are several clinics and physicians offices located on the island if vacationers need medical attention.

For serious medical problems, there is a nationwide medical evacuation service and Movi-Med ambulance service. Here is the contact information for Movi-Med:

Santo Domingo: 809-532-0000
Santiago: 809-587-333
Puerto Plata: 809-970-0707
All other areas: 809-200-0911

Here are the medical facilities and their contact information on the island:

Facility	Address	Phone
Clinic Abreu	Calle Beller #42 Ave. Independencia	809-688-4411
Corazones Unidos	Fantíno Falco #21	809-567-4421
Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology	Ave. Independencia #451 Jos� Joaquín P�rez	809- 221-7100
Center of Medicine Avanzada Abel González	Abraham Lincoln #953	809- 227-2235
UCE University Hospital	Máximo Gómez and Pedro Henríquez Ure�a	809-221-0171

For specialist or emergency in La Roma, contact Centro Medico Doctor Canella at telephone number 809- 556-3135, and in Punta Cana you can go to Centro M�dico Punta Cana or call 809-552-1506 or 809-552-1974.

There are no immunization requirements to enter the Dominican Republic, but it is recommended that travelers visit their physician be up to date on certain vaccinations prior to their vacation. Here are some recommend vaccines and why they are important to have before going to the Dominican Republic:

Vaccine	Reason
Hepatitis A	All travelers should be up-to-date on this vaccination
Hepatitis B	Important for those visiting the island for 6 months or more or having intimate contact with local residents
Typhoid	Travelers eating outside of hotels and restaurants should consider having this vaccination
Rabies	People who may have contact with local animals should have this
Routine immunizations	All travelers should be up-to-date on tetanus-diphtheria, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella immunizations

Vacationers that are taking medication should bring an adequate supply of their medications while on their trip. Be sure that medicine is in clearly labeled containers, and carry a signed and dated letter from your physician describing the medical condition and listing medication names. To ensure that you have your medication readily available carry a supply of medicine in hand luggage as well as in checked baggage.

Before setting off on your vacation to the Dominican Republic, contact your health insurance provider to confirm whether or not your policy is effective overseas. If your company does not provide coverage while abroad, travelers may purchase supplemental coverage while on vacation. Also, be sure to bring a copy of your insurance card, claim forms, and any other relevant insurance documents.

There are a few health precautions that travelers can take to avoid an potential health risks.

Avoid swimming in fresh water like lakes, ponds, streams, rivers. Fresh bodies of water may be contaminated.
Don't drink water that is not from a bottle. Also, avoid any unpasteurized dairy products, and food that is undercooked or has been sitting out for long periods of time.
Wear bug repellent and long sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid mosquito and other insect bites.

Vacationing on the Dominican Republic can be an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Remember to take the necessary health precautions, and sit back and enjoy your time on this island paradise.

Embassies and Consulates

Knowing where to find your embassy or consulate in the Dominican Republic can be a great help for foreign travelers.