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Something can always happen on vacation that makes you need medical care. How is that regulated for tourists in Curaçao?
In urgent need of an ambulance? Call 912 !!!
The saying “accidents happen in the blink of an eye” certainly applies during vacation as well. Because you’re on vacation and want to relax, you might be less careful. “I’m on vacation, the sun is shining: what could happen to me?” might consciously or unconsciously be the attitude with which you’re enjoying your holiday. But then suddenly disaster strikes. You step on a prickly sea urchin, get stung by a jellyfish while swimming, fall asleep on the beach bed in the sun and get badly sunburned, or an unfortunate fall resulting in a fracture or whatever else may happen. Even during a vacation, you don’t ask for it, but you might suddenly need medical care.
General Practitioner (GP)? First Aid?
When you need medical care as a tourist, it is usually a new world you have to explore in an unfamiliar country. Can you go to the hospital’s emergency room with your complaint, or is it more appropriate for a family doctor/GP? But then where do you find a family doctor you can go to? And what about the costs, is it all insured? A lot of extra questions that you don’t want amidst the stress of a medical emergency. Fortunately, Curaçao has a great solution.
MedPoint Curaçao
MedPoint Curaçao is there specifically for primary care for tourists, interns and expats on Curaçao.
- Dutch BIG-registered doctors
- English and Dutch nurses
- Easy and fast communication (including via WhatsApp)
- World health insurance coverage
- Home visits* and teleconsultations
MedPoint focuses specifically on medical care for those who are not permanent residents of Curaçao and may not be fully familiar with the procedures of medical care on the island. MedPoint is very accessible via WhatsApp, and will come to you at your vacation address if desired to minimize disruption to your vacation. The doctors speak Dutch and English.
How does it work with MedPoint?
Step 1. Send a Whatsapp-message
Setting up a consultation to receive medical care from MedPoint is simple. By sending a WhatsApp message you’re put in contact directly with the doctor on duty. He/she may just be in the middle of a different consultation, but you will receive an initial response fairly quickly. If necessary, the doctor will call you, but that too is via WhatsApp, to help limit high overseas phone costs.
MedPoint is available 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Good to know before starting a consultation is that there are fees associated with all of MedPoint’s services, including teleconsultation or prescriptions.
Step 2. Determining the appropriate type of consultation
Together with the doctor the decision is made what type of consultation is most appropriate, depending on your medical question. MedPoint offers three types of consultations:
A. Teleconsultation
B. ‘Housecall’ / Consultation at your vacation-address
C. Consultation at MedPoint’s clinic
Teleconsultation
Here advice is given based on telephone contact. If necessary, prescriptions can be issued. Additionally, photos can be sent to the doctor for evaluation if needed. This type of consultation is only suitable for symptoms/complaints where it is not necessary to see and examine you in person. This could include questions about skin abnormalities, wounds, and symptoms such as vomiting/diarrhea.
‘Housecall’ / Consultation at your vacation-address
If, after the initial WhatsApp contact, it is assessed that a physical consultation is necessary, one option is for the doctor to visit your holiday address. The doctor will bring necessary equipment for further examination, as well as the most common medications, so you have them easily accessible if needed. If you require different medication, you will receive a prescription and can go to the nearest pharmacy (botika) to pick it up.
* Home visits: extra costs are associated with these compared to consultations at MedPoint’s practice.
Consultation at MedPoint’s clinic
If it is not possible or desired to conduct the consultation and/or treatment (completely) at your holiday address, MedPoint also has a (general practitioner’s) practice where you can go.
Step 3. Follow-up
Of course, MedPoint won’t let you go just like that. If aftercare is needed, they are also available for you. Via WhatsApp you can stay in contact with the doctor for as long as it is needed for proper aftercare during your holiday.
The costs
An important question here, of course, is: what are the costs of medical care through MedPoint Curaçao? Because the costs will be different in each case and there is also an additional charge for evening or weekend care, it is not easy to specify upfront.
Good to know is that for tourists or expats with (Dutch/American) insurance, costs are usually (fully) covered by the health and/or travel insurance company. MedPoint will provide you with the right documentation for the insurance company. The consultation is paid directly via the mobile pin device the doctor carries along. You will receive a medical report and a receipt, which you can use to claim the costs from your insurance.
Medical care from MedPoint
Among other things, you can visit MedPoint for the following medical care:
- Minor medical procedures, including suturing
- ENT (ear, nose, throat) problems
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology, including assessment of skin rashes
- Referral to physiotherapy
- Referral to dentist
- Nursing care
- STD testing
- Repeat recipes
- Fit-to-fly/Not-fit-to-fly statements
- Lab tests and vaccinations
- Rental of medical crutches
- Medical training on request
- Obstetric care
- During pregnancies: referral for medical ultrasounds and periodic checkups.
