Choosing a polyclinic
The first thing to do when you get sick is to understand which polyclinic you need to go to. Polyclinics in Belarus are similar to hospitals in other countries, but they also provide outpatient care and keep medical records of patients. For international students living in student dormitories, it is recommended to go to the 33rd Polyclinic of Minsk. The polyclinic is located at 45 Surganova Street, Bldg. 4.
If you rent an apartment in Minsk, you will need to register at the polyclinic at the place of your registered residence. How to do this, we talked about in the previous article. You also have the option of going to a private medical center where you can receive medical services on a fee basis.Some of them offer services in English. The list of private clinics can be found on the website of Minsk City Executive Committee.
Calling an ambulance
If you need emergency medical care, call the ambulance service at 103. Unfortunately, ambulance operators do not speak English, so you may need help from someone who speaks and understands Russian. If this person is not around, you can try using a voice interpreter.
If the situation is not critical, you can call a doctor at home - there is a call center on the polyclinic's website. In all other cases, you need to get to the nearest hospital or polyclinic on your own.
Covered Services
Insurance usually covers the costs of hospital treatment. However, services at polyclinics or private doctors are paid out of your pocket. It is recommended that you check the details of your insurance policy with your insurer.
What to buy at the pharmacy?
Many medicines in Belarus are sold only by prescription, but there are a number of nonprescription medicines that may come in handy during your stay in Minsk:
- For diarrhea: Stop-Diar, Smecta, Loperamide
- For headache: Mig, Spasmalgon, Analgin, Citramon
- For vomiting: Motilium
- For fever: Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
You can buy contraceptives at a pharmacy or at supermarket checkout counters. If you need to use emergency contraception, you can buy such medicines as Postinor and Escapel on your own at any pharmacy. They are released in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. It is recommended to consult a doctor after taking such pills.
We hope that this small instruction will help you in case you need medical assistance. Take care of your health and stay healthy!