Most trip planning goes into flights and accommodation, but your health needs its own checklist. Getting travel medical advice from your GP before you leave gives you time for any vaccines, a plan for your regular medicines and a clear idea of the risks where you are going. Smartraveller is blunt about the stakes: Medicare and the PBS do not work overseas, and hospital stays can cost thousands of dollars a day. This guide covers when to see your doctor, what to discuss and how to prepare, step by step. It also explains how travel medicine works at Harpley Doctors in Werribee.
Key Takeaways
- See your GP at least 6 weeks before you leave, and ideally 12 weeks.
- Check that routine vaccinations are up to date as well as any travel vaccines.
- Some common medicines are restricted or illegal in other countries.
- Medicare and the PBS do not cover you overseas, so travel insurance matters.
- See a doctor if you become unwell after you get home.
When to get travel medical advice
Healthdirect recommends seeing your doctor at least 6 weeks, and preferably 12 weeks, before you leave Australia. That gives your immune system time to respond to vaccines, and some vaccines need more than one dose. Smartraveller suggests 6 to 8 weeks as the minimum so you have time to act on the advice.
If your departure is closer than that, it is still worth booking. Our article on travel vaccine timing explains what can still be done on a short lead time.
What to discuss with your GP
Good travel medical advice depends on the details of your trip and your health. Healthdirect lists what your doctor will consider:
- your age and vaccination history
- whether you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
- any past or present illnesses, and your general health
- the season you are travelling in
- your destinations, length of stay and type of travel
Bring your itinerary, including stopovers, and a list of your medicines. Mention what you plan to do there, as activities such as riding a scooter, driving or adventure sports carry their own risks, and Smartraveller warns that basic insurance policies may not cover higher-risk activities. If you are travelling with children, ask about their health and check their childhood vaccinations are current.
Planning a trip overseas? Book a travel consultation with one of our GPs well before you fly.
Vaccinations for travel
Start with the routine ones. Healthdirect recommends being up to date with measles, mumps and rubella, flu, chickenpox, polio, and diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, because immunity to some diseases fades over time and you may need another dose before you go.
Depending on where you are going, you may also need vaccines for diseases such as hepatitis A or B, typhoid, cholera, meningococcal disease, Japanese encephalitis, rabies or yellow fever. Some countries require proof of vaccination before they let you in. Harpley Doctors is an approved yellow fever vaccination centre, and our yellow fever vaccine page explains the service.
Many routine vaccines are free under the National Immunisation Program for people with Medicare, but some travel vaccines are not covered and need to be bought. Our immunisation services page covers the other vaccines we give.
Travelling with medicines
If you take regular medicine, plan for the whole trip. Smartraveller’s medicine advice recommends that you:
- take enough for the whole trip, plus a little extra in case of delays
- carry medicines in their original packaging
- ask your doctor for a letter stating what the medicine is, how much you take and that it is for personal use
- check whether each medicine is legal at your destination, and whether you need a permit
Commonly restricted medicines include ADHD medicines, codeine and other opioid pain relief, cold and flu tablets containing pseudoephedrine, sleeping tablets, anti-anxiety medicines and antidepressants. If a medicine is illegal where you are going, ask your doctor whether there is an alternative. Limits also apply to how much PBS medicine you can take out of Australia.
If you live with a long-term condition such as diabetes or a heart condition, talk with your GP about managing it away from home. Our GPs provide ongoing chronic condition management and can help you plan how to manage it while you are away.
Insurance and medical costs overseas
You cannot use Medicare or the PBS overseas, so you, your family or your insurer will have to pay for any care. Smartraveller’s travel health checklist warns that you may not be treated if you cannot pay up front, even in an emergency.
When you choose a policy, check whether it covers pre-existing conditions, seeing a local doctor, medical evacuation and the activities you have planned. Most insurers do not cover prescription medicines, including medicines lost with your bags. Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with 11 countries, which provide some emergency care to Australians, but you still need travel insurance to visit them.
Staying well while you are away, and after you get home
Smartraveller suggests a small first aid kit with headache tablets, antiseptic, cotton wool, waterproof bandages, SPF 30 to 50+ sunscreen and insect repellent. While you are away, wash your hands often, choose safe food and water, protect yourself from insect bites, use sun protection and take steps to prevent blood clots on long-haul flights.
If you feel unwell overseas or after you get home, get medical advice. Smartraveller notes that returning with an infectious disease can put your family and friends at risk too.
Travel consultations at Harpley Doctors
Dr Reda Aboelsaad lists travel medicine among his areas of interest, and you can read about him and our other doctors on our team page. All consultations and procedures are bulk billed.
You can book online through HealthEngine or call (03) 8731 1330. We are open Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm, weekends 9 am to 5 pm and public holidays 10 am to 3 pm, at T20, 1 Hindson Street, Werribee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I see a GP before travelling?
Healthdirect recommends at least 6 weeks before you leave, and preferably 12 weeks, so vaccines have time to work and any that need more than one dose can be started in time.
Do I need a letter from my doctor for my medicines?
Smartraveller recommends one, because authorities overseas may ask you to prove the medicine is yours. The letter should say what the medicine is, how much you take and that it is for personal use.
Can I get the yellow fever vaccine at Harpley Doctors?
Yes. Harpley Doctors is an approved yellow fever vaccination centre.
Does Medicare cover me overseas?
No. Medicare and the PBS do not apply overseas. Some countries with reciprocal health care agreements provide some emergency care, but Smartraveller advises that you still need travel insurance.
Leaving soon? Book your pre-travel visit at Harpley Doctors in Werribee, online through HealthEngine or by phone.