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FAQ - HEALTH & SAFETY
Is medical care available in the area?
Yes. We’d like to reassure you that medical care is
available here in Dharamsala and is extremely inexpensive by Western
standards. Delek Hopstial and Clinic offers Western medicine
administered by Tibetan doctors (and by volunteer Western doctors when
available). The hospital has a laboratory which can do stool and
blood tests, a pharmacy, an eye clinic, a dental clinic, an in-patient
ward, and even a delivery room! While having surgery here in
Dharamsala is not generally recommended, there are good surgical
facilities available in Chandigarh and Delhi. A well-equipped and
sanitary dentist (recommended by several of our staff) is also
nearby. There are also local doctors and pharmacies offering
Tibetan, Auyrvedic, and Homeopathic medicine.
Basic first aid supplies and medications such painkillers, oral
rehydration salts, plasters (band-aids) and antibiotics are readily
available at local pharmacies. If you take prescription medicines, we
suggest that you bring enough to last through your trip (in the
original bottles and with a copy of your prescription to avoid
customs/police problems). If you are planning a long trip to
Asia, you might want to consider bringing multi-vitamin supplements
with you, as maintaining proper nutrition on the road can be quite
challenging. If you wear glasses, you may want to bring an extra pair
or at least carry your prescription with you as replacements can be
made very cheaply in India.
What travel immunisations/medications do I need for India?
First-time travellers to India often have many
questions about health issues. Unfortunately we are not in a
position to make personal recommendations about your medical
care. Please consult the following resources for advice:
-
Your local travel health clinic
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website
(www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm) has the latest information on travel
vaccinations, disease outbreaks, and general travel health advice for
South Asia.
- The health section of your travel guidebook or a travel health guidebook (Lonely Planet publishes a small, inexpensive one).
Do I need to take anti-malaria medication when I come to Tushita?
No, Tushita is situated at 2100m (7000ft), so there is no malaria here!
Note: Among the common side effects of the anti-malaria medication
Larium (Mefloquine) listed by the Center for Disease Control are:
‘…anxiety, vivid dreams, and visual disturbances.
Mefloquine has rarely been reported to cause serious side effects, such
as seizures, depression, and psychosis.’
It is our experience at Tushita that meditating while taking Larium may
increase the likelihood and/or severity of these side effects and
therefore we discourage students from taking Larium while meditating or
participating in our courses.
Is it safe to travel in India, especially alone?
Personal safety is a common concern for travellers.
Our general advice is this: be careful and apply the same common sense
in India that you would use at home. Also, watch your bags, secure your
room when going out and always carry your passport and valuables in a
money belt ON your body and INSIDE your clothing. Be especially
watchful in airports, train stations and on public transport. But also
relax and enjoy! The vast majority of travellers have no safety
problems while travelling in India. For more information on personal safety, please see the safety
section of your travel guidebook (e.g. Lonely Planet) and talk to other travellers about
their experiences and for advice.
MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY!
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