Guide to Belize. Healthcare in Belize. Doctors, Clinics, Treatment, Medicine and Physicians

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... Belize has a
rich tradition
of natural
and herbal medicine

Healthcare Introduction

The beautiful wildlife that attracts visitors can pose its own threat to their health, and travelers are encouraged to be aware of the risks.

You can drink the water in most areas of Belize, but ask locally if you're not sure. Even street food is usually safe, but that doesn't mean you won't get Belize Belly. The local microbes may be just different enough from those back home to give your system fits

The Belize Health System

Belize has a mixed medical system. Most Belizeans get free or low-cost care at a system of government-run hospitals and clinics around the country. In addition, there are doctors with private practices who offer services for fee. Most doctors in Belize are foreign-born and trained. Western Medicine is at a complete loss when it comes to curing such epidemics as cancer, aids and the common cold.

A visit to a doctor will cost about US$15 or $20, plus any medicines prescribed. A hospital stay could cost you $20-$50 per day.

For a serious illness such as a heart attack, you may want to do what wealthy Belizeans do go to Houston, Miami or elsewhere in the U.S.

Chetumal, the capital of the state of Yucatán and just north of Corozal Town, has private physicians and clinics which, in many cases, can provide high-quality care at a much lower price than care in the U.S. or in Belize

Insurance

Medical expenses in Belize can be costly, so acquiring proper medical insurance coverage is important. In fact, even if you do have insurance, many hospitals and treatment facilities require payment at the time of service

How to Get Medical Treatment in Belize

Belize has a shortage of doctors, especially in rural areas, but treatment is available, by generally well-trained physicians, in Belize City, on Amber- gris Caye and in larger towns such as Dangriga and San Ignacio.

Herbal Medicine

Belize has a rich tradition of natural and herbal medicine. The most famous, Don Eligio Panti, died in 1996 at well over age 100. Ask locally for recommendations on the nearest bush doctor or snake doctor. The best of them combine natural healing with an instinct for when to direct patients to a local clinic or hospital.

Wild Tamarind tea is calming the stomac for gastric or digestion problems and helps you after a stressfull day. It also can reduce malaria fever.

Pharmacies

Belize pharmacies usually require a doctor's prescription for prescribed drugs. A few drugs, such as painkillers with codeine which may require a prescription in the U.S., are usually available over the counter in Belize.

Dentist

Belize City also has a number of dentists. Dental care costs vary, but generally are about one-third to one-half what you'd pay in the U.S. Dental care in Chetumal also is very inexpensive.

Hospitals

If you become ill in Belize, you can get emergency care at a local public hospital or clinic. Besides Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and a variety of clinics in Belize City,.

Hospital	Location	Telephone Number
Belize Medical Associates belizemedical.com	5791 St. Thomas Street, Kings Park, Belize City	+501-223-0302 +501-223-0303 +501-223-0304
Karl Huesner Memorial khmh.bz	Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City	+501-223-1584
Belize City Hospital	Eyre Street, Belize City	+501-227-7251
San Pedro Polyclinic II	San Pedro Ambergris Caye	+501-226-2536
Belmopan Hospital	Florina Drive, Belmopan	+501-822-2263 +501-822-2264
La Loma Luz Hospital	Cayo	+501-804-2985
Corozal Hospital	Corozal	+501-422-2081
Southern Regional Hospital	Dangriga	+501-522-3832
Dangriga Hospital	Dangriga	+501-522-2084
Orange Walk Hospital	Orange Walk	+501-322-2143
Punta Gorda Hospital	Punta Gorda	+501-722-2026
San Ignacio Hospital	San Ignacio	+501-824-2066

Diving Recompression Chamber

When you land at the airstrip in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, you may notice an unusual building on the north side of the airstrip. The building houses a Double-Lock Recompression Chamber owned by Subaquatics of Belize Ltd. It is the only recompression chamber in Belize.

Emergency service is available 24 hour, everyday.

Emergency Phone: +501-226-2851
Phone: +501-226-3195
Fax: +501-226-2852
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Otto Rodríguez: +501-16-3864
Antonia Guerrero: +501-16-3442

DON'T: Over-exercise; take hot showers or baths after diving; drink alcohol, coffee and sodas immediately before/or after; avoid getting too cold during and after diving; avoid greasy foods; do not fly immediately after a dive.

Food and Water

The safety of water in Belize is heavily dependent upon which part of the country you're traveling in. In many of the urban areas tap water is filtered and considered safe to drink but visitors are advised to purchase bottled water and avoid drinks with ice. Local specialties such as ceviche should be avoided as well, as raw and undercooked meat can cause food-borne illness.

Snakes

Belize has about two dozen varieties of poisonous snakes (only about nine are actually potentially lethal), along with stinging scorpions (not deadly but painful), tarantulas (they make great pets) and vampire bats (don't sleep outside naked).

The average visitor, however, has far more to fear from traffic accidents than any natural-born killer. Traffic accidents have become the leading cause of death in the Belize

Diseases

The risk of cholera and typhoid, serious diseases elsewhere in the region, is considered low in Belize. Rabies is present, but rarely affects travelers.
Honey bees in Belize are virtually all now Africanized, and these killer bees are aggressive

Chagas disease, or the "kissing bug" disease, transmitted by a bug which in Belize is occasionally present in the thatch roofs of poorly maintained structures and which drops down to bite and infect its victim. There is very, very slight risk of filariasis and onchocerciasis (look'em up) in Belize.

Dengue fever is not common in Belize, but it does occur in the region it has been widespread in the Yucatán and sometimes occurs in Belize, especially during and just after the rainy season.

Sandflies Sand flies are common in mangrove swamp areas and in the sand in some areas, notably the Hopkins area, Caye Caulker and Placencia. Some people aren't much bothered by sandflies, more serious problem which can be caused by the bites of sandlflies is leishmaniasis, a disease which may cause the skin to develop sores, leaving scars. If infections from sandfly bites don't seem to heal, seek out a tropical medicine specialist

Malaria Cases of malaria are rare in populated areas such as Belize City and on the cayes. But there are still several thousand cases of malaria reported in Belize every year, mainly in the south and in remote areas of the north and west.

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