Insurance
A Travel Insurance policy that covers, theft, loss, cancellation
from trek and tour due to bad weather, unaviodable circumstances, emergency
evacuation and medical treatment is highly recommended. Make sure the
insurance also covers the activities that you will be undertaking during
your stay in Nepal such as trekking or river-rafting.

Immunization
Nepal does not require any particular immunization for your
visit. Cholera, Meningitis, Tetanus & Diphtheria, Typhoid and Gamma Globulin
are some of the vaccinations that should be considered for your trip.
Please consult your physican and get a complete check-up before your
departure.

Medical Kit
A simple but adequate medical kit can be most useful without
taking much space in your baggage. The following is recommended as tried and
true list of items.

Asprin or Panadol - for pain or fever.
Antihistamine - useful as a decongestant for colds, allergies, to ease the
itch from insects bites and stings or to help prevent motion sickness.
Antibiotics-useful if you are travelling well off the beaten track but they
must be prescribed.
Kaolin preparation (Pepto-Bismol), Imodium or Lomotil - for stomach upsets
and to stop diarrhea and dehydration. Rehydration mixture - for treatment of
severe diarrhea and dehydration. Antiseptic, Mercurochrome and Antibiotic
powder or similar 'dry' spray-for cuts and grazes.
Calamine lotion-to ease irritation from bites and stings.
Bandages and Band-Aids- for minor injuries and wounds.
Scissors, Tweezers and a Thermometer.
Insect repellent, sun block, sun tan lotion, chapsticks.
Throat Lozenges (Strepsils)
Moleskin
Sulamyd 10% eye drops.
Acetaminophen (paracetamol)
Antacid tablets.

Prevention the Best Medicine
Care in what you eat and drink is the most important health rule. The number
one rule is don't consume the water including ice. Reputable brands of
bottled water or soft drinks are generally fine. Take care with fruit juice,
particularly if water may have been added. Milk should be treated with care,
as it is often unpasteurised. Boiled milk is fine if it is kept hygienically
and yogurt is usually good. Tea or Coffee should also be OK since the water
would have been boiled. Salads and fruit should be washed with purified
water or peeled where possible. Ice cream is usually OK if it is a reputable
brand name, but beware of ice cream that has melted and been refrozen.
Thoroughly cooked food is the safest but not if it has been left to cool.
Stomach upsets are the most likely travel health problem but the majority of
these upsets will be relatively minor.

Wash your hands frequently, as it's quite easy to contaminate your own food.
You should clean your teeth with purified water rather than straight from
the tap.
Avoid climatic extremes: keep out of the sun when it is hot, dress warmly
when it is cold. Avoid potential diseases by dressing sensibly. You can get
worm infections through bare feet. Try to avoid insect bites by covering
bare skin when insects are around, by screening windows or by using insect
repellents.

Medical Facilities
Pharmacy shops are widely available in most towns and
are usually associated with doctors' clinics very nearby. Prescription is
not a requirement for purchase of harmless drugs in Nepal.

Hospitals
The government-operated Bir Hospital (Tel: 221119) is centrally
located. The best bet in the Kathmandu Valley is the Patan Hospital (Tel:
521034, 522266), which is partially staffed by Western missionaries and is
near the Lagankhel Bus Park of Patan. The TU Teaching Hospital (Tel: 412303)
located in Maharajgunj is reasonably well equipped.

Private Clinics
The CIWEC Clinic (Tel: 410983) in Durbar Marg is used by
many foreign residents of Kathmandu. It has been operating since 1982 and
has developed an internation-al reputation for research into travellers'
medical problems. It's open from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm and is staffed
by Westerners. A single visit will cost around US$ 28.

The Nepal International Clinic (Tel: 412842) is near Jai Nepal Cinema, close
to Durbar Marg. It also has an excellent reputation and is a bit cheaper
than the CIWEC clinic. It's open from 9 am to 1 pm and 2-5 pm; a
consultation costs around US$ 23. In addition, there are many government
hospitals, private clinics and Nursing Homes in Kathmandu and major towns of
Nepal.

The Himalayan Rescue Association runs tow Rescue Centres at Pheriche and
Manang for the benifit of trekkers and mountaineers.

Ambulances:Ambulance (Paropakar), Bhimsenthan, Kathmandu, Tel:
211959. Ambulance (Red Cross), Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu.
Tel: 228094.
Bhaktapur Hospital, Doodh Pati, Bhaktapur, Tel: 610676, 610798.
Bir Hospital, Tundikhel, Ratna Park, Kathmandu, Tel: 221119,
221988, (Emergency) 223807.
Birendra Police Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Tel: 412430,
412530.
Birendra Hospital (Army), Chhauni, Kathmandu, Tel: 271940, 271941.Kanti
Children's Hospital, Maharajgunj, Tel: 414798, 413398,411550.Patan
Hospital, Lagankhel, Tel: 521048,522266,521034.
T.U. Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Tel: 412303, 412808,412505,
412404.